GIFT  OF 

PROFESSOR    C.A,  KOFOID 


HOME  ON  THE  DEEP; 

\%  ^ 


OB, 


THE  MAEINEE'S  TRIALS 


ON  THB 


DARK    BLUE     SEA. 

BY 

A   SON    OP   THE    OCEAN. 


BOSTON: 

HIGGINS,     BRADLEY     &     DAYTON, 

20    "WASHINGTON    STREET. 

1857. 


G 


GIFT  OF 


PROFESSOR    C.A. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1857,  by 

HIGG1NS,  BRADLEY  A  DAYTON, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE. 

THE  life  of  a  sailor  is  far  from  being  one  of  ease 
and  inactivity;  but  it  still  presents  considerable  in- 
tervals of  entire  leisure,  with  very  limited  sources 
of  amusement.  Divided  from  the  great  herd  of 

mankind,  and   cut   off,  for  a  season   at   least,   from 

% 
the  knowledge  of  passing  events,  there  is  no  class 

of  persons  thrown  more  upon  their  own  resources 
for  intellectual  employment,  than  seamen.  The  ob- 
jects which  daily  meet  their  eyes  are  the  same', 
their  routine  of  duties  is,  for  the  most  part,  unva- 
ried ;  and  except  when  a  transient  sail  looms  from 
the  horizon,  the  elements  alone  furnish  subjects  of 
interest  and  excitement  to  the  accustomed  traversers 
of  the  deep.  Next  to  the  claims  of  religion  upon 
minds  thus  undistracted  by  the  avocations  of  society, 
or  the  allurements  of  the  world,  those  of  literature 


vi  PREFACE. 

certainly  appear  the  strongest.  It  is  difficult,  how- 
ever, at  sea,  .even  in  the  most  favorable  capacity,  to 
go  through  a  long  and  continued  course  of  reading, 
without  frequent  and  provoking  interruptions.  The 
noise  and  motion  of  the  vessel,  the  sudden  shiftings 
of  the  wind, — in  short,  the  very  situation  in  which 
one  finds  himself  "cabin'd,  cribb'd,  confin'd," — 
are  so  many  impediments  to  a  steady  and  success- 
ful cultivation  of  literature. 

The  object  of  the  present  volume  has  been  to 
afford  a  series  of  brief  and  interesting  sketches, 
whictt  might  be  both  useful  and  attractive  to  the 
seaman,  and  afford  a  convenient  pastime  for  his  lei- 
sure moments.  It  was  believed  that  a  miscellany 
of  the  kind,  which  by  its  variety  might  not  readily 
tire,  and  which  might  be  laid  down  and  resumed 
at  frequent  intervals,  without  losing  its  interest, 
would  not  be  unacceDtable  to  the  intelligent  mar- 
iner. 


CONTENTS. 


Pag» 

Early  Discoveries            -           -           -                        -  13 

Columbus            ......  14 

Magellan                           -            -           8            "           "  17 

§ir  Francis  Drake            -  20 
The  Spanish  Wreck        .... 

Dampier               ......  26 

A  Man  Overboard  - 

Captain  Woods  Rogers  .  .  -  - 

Story  of  Alexander  Selkirk          ...  31 

A  Scene  off  Bermuda     -  - 

Captain  John  Clipperton  - 

Ferocity  of  the  Polar  Bear                        ...  40 

Le  Maire  and  Schouten                                          -            -  42 

The  Florida  44 

Commodore  Anson       -  -                         -            -            -  45 

Fishing  on  the  Grand  Bank                      ...  50 

Byron       -                        •                        -  53 

A  Tale  of  the  Sea                                    -            -  57 

Wallis    -                                                  ...  60 

Voyage  from  Halifax  to  Bermuda  64 

De  Bougainville                -                         ...  68 

History  of  the  Buccaneers                        ...  71 
Voyage  of  Captain  James                         ... 

The  Pirate's  Treasure      -                                                  •  85 

Missionaries  in  Greenland                         -  .         -            -  100 

Dolphins  and  Flying  Fish                         -                         -  102 

Henry  Hudson                 -----  105 

Famine  on  Board  the  Le  Jacques            ...  105 

Law  of  Arrest                  -                                      -            -  110 

Captain  Cook                                                          r  113 


CONTENTS. 

Pa«e 

Captain  Cook's  Second  Voyage                                         -  118 

.Third        do.      -  124 

Sufferings  of  Ephraiin  Howe       -  138 

An  Escape  through  the  Cabin  Windows  140 

Tne  Fatal  Repast  144 

Captains  Portlock  and  Dixon       -            -            -  153 
Curiosity  Baffled                                                                    -      -     160 

Shipwrecked  Mariners  Saved  Through  a  Dream             -  171 

A  Polite  Sea-robber  173 

Feelings  Excited  by  a  long  Voyage          -  176 

Forty-five  days'  Sufferings  180 

Monsieur  de  la  Perouse                 •           -            -            -  185 

Midshipman's  Pranks      -                                                   -  203 

The  Loss  of  the  Phoenix  212 

Mutiny  of  the  Bounty      -----  223 

Bird  Catching  in  the  Shetland  Islands     -  235 

Dangers  of  a  Nova  Scotia  Fog    -            -            -            -  238 

The  Eddystone  Light  House       -  243 

John  Paul  Jones  246 

James  Lawrence               -----  249 

Early  American  Heroism            ....  252 

Captain  G.  Vancouver     -----  253 

A  Visit  to  Rockall  276 

Captain  Inglefield's  Narrative      -  282 

A  Monkey  Trick                                                   -  284 

Captain  Kennedy's  Narrative      -  285 

Tom  Cringle's  Log                                    -            -  287 

Nelson  291 

The  Cumberland  Packet  307 

Captain  D'Entrecasteaux              ....  309 

Captain  Riley       -                       '-            -            -  315 

Adventures  of  Captain  Woodward           -            -            -  319 

Ship  wreck  of  the  Blendenhall      -  325 

The  Cliffs  of  Dover                                               -  328 

An  Account  of  the  Whale  Fishery          -           -  331 

The  Loss  of  the  Peggy     -  346 

The  Medusa        -                                                 -  352 

The  Main  Truck,  or  a  Leap  for  Life       -  356 

The  Harpooner  Transport  364 

Commodore  Barney                     ....  367 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Page 

Naval  Battles  of  the  United  States  -      t    371 

Captain  Parry's  First  Voyage  of  Discovery  -          382 

Second  Voyage                      _            -  -                       399 

Third      do.  409 

Loss  of  the  Alceste          -            -           -  •  411 

Kotzebue  426 

W reck  of  the  Rothsay  Steamer  428 

Narrative  of  Captain  W.  L.  Cazneau       -  -                       432 

New  York  436 

Narrative  of  Captain  Lincoln       -  437 

Greenwich  Hospital                      -            -  469 

Loss  of  the  Ship  Boston  470 

The  Loss  of  the  Kent      -  472 

Properties  of  the  Sea,  &c.           -  478 
Classification  of  Clouds                ....          480 


POETRY. 

The  Beacon  Light  22 

The  Ocean                                    ...  34 

Nautical  Philosophy        -                                      -            -  57 

The  Wreckers     -                         ....  77 

The  Dying  Dolphin                                  -  104 

A  Sea  Song  113 

Lament  for  Long  Tom    -----  144 

The  Return  of  the  Admiral                       -  170 

The  Sea  Bird's  Song       -                         -  176 

The  Grecian  Mariner's  Song        -            -            -         .    -  184 

The  Sound  of  the  Sea      -                         -  211 

A  Sea  Ballad        -  237 

Address  to  the  Ocean      -                         ...  251 

The  Subterranean  Stream           ....  281 

As  Fast  and  Far  o'er  Waves  we  fly         -            -  287 

Casablanca           ......  306 

The  Mariner's  Address  to  his  Mistress    -  314 

The  Mariner's  Hymn       -                         -  330 

The  American  Flag  381 

Old  Ironsides 425 


Ill  CONTENTS. 


ENGRAVINGS. 

Pag. 

The  landing  of  Columbus                                             .  16 

Straps  of  Magellan.          .....  18 

Peak  of  Teneriffe            -  30 

Cape  Horn           ......  43 

St.  Helena                         -            -            -            -            .  50 

Pirate's  Treasure                       '    -            -            -            .  99 

^eath  of  Captain  Cook  133 

Bird  Catching  on  the  Shetland  Islands    ...  236 

The  Eddystone  Light  House       ....  244 

Rockall                             .....  270 

The  Wreck  of  the  Cumberland  Packet   -  309 

Dover  Castle        ......  329 

Boat  Upset  by  a  Whale               ....  344 

View  of  Boston   ......  380 

New  York           ......  43(5 

Greenwich  Hospital         .....  4(39 

Classification  of  Clouds                -                         -            -  481 


HIE 

MARINERS'    LIBRARY. 


EARLY  MARITIME  DISCOVERIES. 

THE  Portuguese  were  among  the  first  to  signalize  themselves  in 
the  career  of  geographical  discovery.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
fifteenth  century,  Prince  Henry,  son  of  John  I.  was  at  the  head 
of  the  marine  of  Portugal.  Under  his  immediate  direction,  sev- 
eral voyages  were  undertaken  to  the  coast  of  Africa;  in  one  of 
which  the  voyagers  were  driven  by  a  storm  out  of  their  usual 
course  along  shore,  and  for  the  first  time  the  terrified  mariners 
found  themselves  in  the  boundless  ocean.  When  the  storm  abat- 
ed, they  were  in  sight  of  an  island,  to  which,  in  their  thankful- 
ness to  Heaven  for  the  succor  it  afforded,  they  gave  the  name  of 
Puerto  Sancto,  or  the  Holy  Haven — the  least  of  the  Madeiras. 
The  voyages  of  the  Portuguese  now  succeeded  each  other  rapidly; 
and  other  navigators  of  this  nation,  either  grown  bolder,  or  again 
driven  off  the  coast,  discovered  the  Azores.  In  1433,  the  Por- 
tuguese passed  Cape  Nun,  hitherto  the  limit  of  their  courses,  and 
arrived  at  a  cape,  which  presenting  a  frightful  barrier  to  the  still 
timid  seamen,  in  the  terrible  surf  that  broke  on  the  shoals  near  it, 
they  named  Bojador,  signifying  its  projection  into  the  sea  and  the 
consequent  circuit  it  required  to  double  it. 

In  succeeding  expeditions,  Cape  Verd  was  reached,  and  the 
Senegal  arrived  at,  and  Lisbon  saw  with  astonishment  a  different 
race  from  the  Moors.  Cape  Mesurado  was  the  limit  of  the  Por- 
tuguese discoveries  at  the  death  of  Prince  Henry  in  1463,  which 
damping  the  ardor  of  discovery,  it  was  not  until  1171  that  the 
Equator  was  crossed,  and  the  islands  in  the  gulf  of  Guinea  were 
discovered. 

The  terrors  of  the  burning  zone,  and  the  belief  of  the  union  of 
Africa  and  Asia  being  dissipated  by  these  successive  voyages,  the 
passage  to  India  round  Africa  was  no  longer  deemed  impossible, 
and  a  fleet  was  fitted  out  under  Bartholomew  Diaz  for  the  express 
purpose  of  attempting  it.  The  captain  coasted  Africa  to  within 
sight  of  its  southern  point,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cape  of 
all  Torments  from  the  violent  storms  he  experienced  off  it,  and 
which,  as  well  as  the  want  of  provisions,  obliged  him  to  return  to 
Lisbon,  after  an  absence  of  sixteen  months.  The  name  of  the 
Cape  of  all  Torments  was  changed  by  the  king  to  that  of  Good 
Hope,  from  the  prospect  it  afforded  of  accomplishing  the  passage 
to  India. 

2 


14  COLUMBUS. 

Ten  years  however  elapsed  after  the  discovery  of  the  Cape 
before  this  passage  was  again  attempted:  and  Vasco  de  Gama  had 
the  honor  of  doubling  the  promontory  the  20th  of  November, 
1497.  Sailing  along  the  east  coast  of  Africa,  he  passed  through 
the  Mosambique  Channel  to  Mombaze  arid  thence  to  Melinda, 
where  he  procured  pilots,  and  crossing  the  Arabian  sea,  arriv- 
ed at  Callicut  the  22d  of  May,  1498.  It  is  thought  that  the 
ridiculous  ceremony  of  ducking,  &c.  on  crossing  the  line  was  first 
practised  in  this  voyage. 


COLUMBUS. 


While  the  Portuguese  were  attempting  to  arrive  at  India  by  the 
east,  Columbus  conceived  the  idea  of  reaching  it  by  the  west, 
which  produced  a  discovery  that  was  totally  to  alter  the  face  of 
Europe  by  inundating  it  with  the  treasures  of  a  new  world. — 
Christopher  Columbus  was  a  native  of  Genoa.  He  seems  to  have 
been  accustomed,  in  a  degree,  from  his  youth,  to  a  sea-life,  and 
once  commanded  a  ship  in  an  engagentent  with  a  Venitian  galley, 
when  both  vessels  having  grappled  took  fire,  and  he  saved  himself 
by  swimming  nearly  two  leagues  to  the  shore. 

Columbus  had  formed  an  opinion,  after  much  reflection,  that 
by  sailing  across  the  Atlantic  towards  the  west,  new  countries, 
probably  forming  a  part  of  India,  must  be  discovered.  Fired  with 
this  project,  he  first  proposed  his  plans  to  the  king  of  Portugal, 
but  that  monarch  not  readily  complying  with  his  terms,  Columbus 
concluded  to  resort  to  the  court  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  who 
then  ruled  the  united  kingdoms  of  Castile  and  Arragon.  His 
proposals  were  listened  to  with  respect,  and  an  assembly  of  all 
the  learned  men  of  the  realm  was  called  to  listen  to  his  reason- 
ing, and  weigh  his  arguments.  He  rose  before  this  learned  body, 
and  explained  to  them  his  project  and  the  probabilities  of  its 
success.  But  his  propositions  were  rejected  as  absurd.  One  of 
their  assertions  was,  that  if  a  man  should  sail  away  westward 
as  far  as  Columbus  proposed,  he  would  not  be  able  to  return  on 
account  of  the  roundness  of  the  globe.  They  said  it  would  be 
going  down;  and  that  coming  back  would  be  like  climbing  a 
hill,  which  a  vessel  could  not  do  without  the  strongest  gale! 

But  though  baffled  by  these  prejudiced  men,  he  finally  found 
an  advocate  in  the  Queen  Isabella,  who  promised  her  assistance 
to  the  undertaking.  After  much  delay  and  difficulty,  an  expedi- 
tion was  fitted  out,  and  Columbus  appointed  admiral.  He  sailed 
with  his  companions  from  the  bar  of  Saltes,  a  small  island  in  front 


COLUMBUS.  15 

of  the  town  of  Huelva,  on  the  morning  of  the  third  of  August, 
1492.  They  steered  their  course  in  a  S.  W.  direction  for  the 
Canary  Islands.  The  day  after  their  departure,  the  rudder  of  one 
of  the  caravels  was  unshipped.  This  was  supposed  to  have  been 
done  through  the  contrivance  of  two  men  on  board,  who  disliked 
the  voyage.  Her  captain  however  repaired  the  rudder  by  means 
of  ropes,  so  as  to  be  able  to  keep  on  their  course  as  far  as  the  Grand 
Canary.  Here  three  or  four  weeks  were  spent  in  repairing  the 
vessel,  and  in  taking  in  supplies  of  wood  and  water;  after  which, 
on  the  sixth  of  September,  they  departed  in  a  westerly  direction. 
On  the  fifteenth  of  the  same  month,  at  night,  they  saw  a  wonderful 
flash  of  fire  fall  into  the  sea.  On  the  next  day  they  fell  in  with  a 
large  quantity  of  green  weeds,  among  which  they  found  a  live  crab ; 
and  soon  after  great  flocks  of  birds  were  seen  flying  towards  the 
west.  The  sailors  watched,  with  the  greatest  anxiety,  for  every 
sign  of  land.  But  being  often  disappointed  they  began  to  murmur 
and  grow  afraid. 

Towards  the  night  of  the  22d,  two  or  three  land-birds  came 
singing  on  board  the  vessels,  and  flew  away  at  daybreak.  One 
thing  that  terrified  the  sailors  was  that  the  wind  always  blew  direct- 
ly in  their  stern.  They  believed  that  in  those  seas  they  should 
never  have  a  wind  to  carry  them  back  again.  It  fortunately  hap- 
pened however,  that  about  this  time  the  wind  started  up  freshly 
from  another  quarter,  with  a  rolling  sea.  The  signs  of  land  having 
continually  failed,  the  crews  grew  more  incensed  against  the  ad 
miral.  Provisions  were  falling  short,  and  the  general  wish  seemed 
to  be  to  turn  back.  Some  of  them  even  proposed  to  throw  Colum- 
bus into  the  sea,  and  give  out  on  their  return  that  he  had  fallen 
overboard,  while  engaged  in  taking  some  observations. 

On  the  eleventh  of  October  they  experienced  signs  of  land, 
which  could  not  be  mistaken.  A  cane  and  a  log  were  picked 
up,  and  a  branch  of  thorn  full  of  red  berries  was  likewise  found. 
Convinced,  by  these  tokens,  of  the  vicinity  of  land,  Columbus 
after  evening  prayers,  made  an  address  to  hTs  crew,  reminding 
them  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  bringing  them  so  far,  and  encourag- 
ing them  to  continue."  About  ten  o' clock  that  evening,  while 
keeping  an  anxious  look-out  from  the  top  of  the  cabin,  the  ad- 
miral thought  he  beheld  a  light  glimmering  at  a  great  distance; 
and  at  two  in  the  morning  the  signal  of  land  was  given  by  a  sailor 
named  Rodrigo  de  Triana.  When  the  day  dawned  they  beheld 
before  them  a  large  island,  quite  level,  full  of  green  trees  and 
delicious  springs,  and  apparently  well  inhabited.  The  ships  im- 
mediately came  to  anchor.  The  admiral  went  ashore  in  his  boat, 
well-armed,  and  bearing  the  royal  standard.  After  formally 
taking  possession  of  the  island,  he  named  it  San  Salvador.  I 
is  now  called  Cat  Island,  and  belongs  to  the  group  of  the  Baha- 
mas. 

He  also  discovered  Cuba,  Hispaniola,  and  several  other  small 


16 


COLUMBUS 


islands,  and  having  left  a  colony  in  a  fort  at  Hispaniola  returned 
to  Spain  in  March,  1493.  In  September  following,  he  set  out 
on  his  second  voyage,  and  sailed  by  the  Leeward  Islands  to  His- 
paniola; in  a  third  voyage  undertaken  in  1498,  he  discovered  the 
continent  of  America,  but  in  consequence  of  some  envious  ctiar- 
ges  made  against  him,  was  sent  in  fetters  to  Europe.  He  was 
instantly  liberated  on  his  arrival,  but  so  deeply  did  the  injury  sink 
into  his  mind,  that  he  always  carried  about  him  the  chains  he  had 
worn,  and  ordered  that  they  should  be  buried  with  him.  He  sailed 
from  Cadiz,  in  May,  1502,  on  his  fourth  voyage.  On  arriving  off 


Columbus. 


St.  Domingo  he  found  eighteen  loaded  ships  preparing  to  depart 
for  Europe.  As  from  certain  tokens  he  discerned  the  approach 
of  a  hurricane,  he  requested  permission  to  enter  the  harbour,  and 
at  the  same  time  warned  the  fleet  not  to  sail.  Both  his  request 
and  warning  were  disregarded.  The  hurricane  carne  on.  By 
proper  precautions  he  escaped  its  fury;  but  it  fell  with  such  de- 
structive violence  on  the  fleet,  that  only  two  or  three  ships  were 
saved,  and  the  rest  perished  with  all  their  wealth. 

Columbus  proceeded  on  his  voyage  and  traced  all  the  coast 
about  the  isthmus  of  Darien.  Sailing  homewards  he  was  wreck- 
ed on  the  island  of  Jamaica.  Here  he  underwent  great  distress 
from  the  mutiny  and  desertion  of  his  men,  and  the  suspicions  of  the 
natives,  who  withheld  their  supplies  of  provisions,  till,  by  the  pre- 
diction of  an  eclipse,  he  obtained  an  irresistible  authority  over 
their  rninds.  At  length  he  was  delivered  by  a  squadron  sent  from 
Hispaniola;  and  after  a  short  stay  at  St."  Domingo,  he  embarked 
with  two  ships  for  Spain.  One  of  these  was  obliged  by  storms 


MAGELLAN  17 

to  return,  and  in  the  other  with  great  difficulty  and  danger,  he 
reached  St  Lucar  in  December,  1504,  and  thus  finished  his  last 
disastrous  voyage.  On  his  return  he  had  the  mortification  of 
finding  his  best  friend,  Isabella,  dead.  He  was  worn  down  by 
anxiety  and  disease;  his  services  were  neglected,  and  his  hopes 
miserably  disappointed.  He  finally  died  at  Valladolid,  on  the 
20th  of  May,  1506,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age;  passing 
through  the  last  scene  with  that  piety  and  composure,  which  he 
had  displayed  in  all  the  trying  emergencies  of  life.  In  1536,  his 
remains  were  removed  to  Hispaniola,  and  interred  in  the  city  of 
St.  Domingo.  But  in  1795,  they  were  again  disinterred  and 
conveyed  to  Havanna,  in  Cuba. 


MAGELLAN. 

Ferdinand  Magellan  was  bv  birth  a  Portuguese,  descended 
from  a  good  family,  and  born  towards  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury. In  consequence  of  certain  services  in  the  Indian  Seas,  he 
applied  to  the  government  for  some  recompense ;  but  being  treated 
-\\th  neglect,  he  left  his  own  country  to  seek  employment  in  a 
foreign  land.  In  companv  with  Ruy  Falero,  an  eminent  astron- 
omer, and  one  of  his  associates,  he  travelled  into  Spain,  and  ex- 
plained to  Charles  V.  the  reigning  monarch,  his  project  of  making 
discoveries  in  distant  seas.  The  court  listened  to  the  adventurers 
with  favor,  and  consented  to  fit  out  an  expedition. 

Magellan's  little  squadron  consisted  of  five  ships,  manned  with 
237  men,  and  supplied  with  provisions,  ammunition  and  stores,  for 
two  years.  On  the  1st  of  August,  1519,  they  left  Seville,  and 
on  the  27th  of  September  sailed  from  Sanlucar,  steering  for  the 
Canaries.  They  refreshed  at  Teneriffe,  and  early  in  October 
passed  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands.  Holding  on  their  course, 
they  bore  along  the.  coast  of  Africa,  till  they  crossed  the  line,  seven- 
ty days  after  their  departure.  In  the  beginning  of  December  they, 
came  to  that  part  of  Brazil  which  is  now  called  the  Bay  of 
St.  Lucia.  They  subsequently  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  a  large 
river,  supposed  to  be  the  Rio  Janerio,  where  they  continued 
a  fortnight.  On  their  first  landing,  the  inhabitants  flocked  to  the 
beach  in  great  numbers,  beholding,  as  they  imagined,  five  sea- 
mr:nsters  approach  ins  the  shore.  When  the  boats  put  out  from 
the  ships,  the  natives  set  up  a  great  shout,  conceiving  them  to  be 
vountr  sea-monsters,  the  offspring  of  the  others. 

Proceeding  al  >n2  the  South  American  Coast,  the  squadron 
arrived  in  .April,  1  520,  at  a  large  bay,  now  called  by  the  name  of 


18 


MAGELLAN. 


St.  Julian.  Here  they  saw  a  wild,  gigantic  race,  of  great  size  and 
fierceness  who  made  a  roaring  not  unlike  that  of  bulls.  One  of 
them  came  on  board  the  admiral's  ship,  and  was  well  pleased  with 
his  reception;  but  happening  to  cast  his  eyes  on  a  looking-glass, 
he  was  so  terrified,  that  starting  backwards,  he  beat  to  the  ground 


Straits  of  Magellan. 

two  men  who  stood  behind  him.  Others  subsequently  came  on 
board,  and  their  behavior  afforded  great  entertainment  to  the  offi- 
cers. One  of  these  savages,  ate  a  basket  full  of  ship-biscuits,  and 
drank  a  cask  of  water  at  a  meal.  They  wore  sandals,  or  a  kind 
of  shoes,  made  of  skins,  arid  this  caused  their  feet  to  appear  like 
those  of  an  animal.  Magellan  named  them  Patagonians,  from  the 
Spanish  word  pata,  signifying  a  hoof,  or  paw. 

Magellan  determined  to  continue  here  till  the  return  of  spring, 
as  it  is  winter  in  the  southern  hemisphere  during  our  summer. 
He  had  ordered  the  allowance  of  provisions  to  be  shortened,  to 
meet  this  exigence,  which  caused  much  discontent  among  the 
crews.  A  mutiny  soon  followed,  which  was  not  quelled  till  one 
of  the  officers  was  hanged,  and  some  others  were  sent  on  shore 
to  be  left  among  the  Patagonians.  Five  dreary  months  were  pas- 
sed in  the  harbor  of  St.  Julian,  during  which,  every  exertion 
was  made  to  insure  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  voyage. 
On  the  24th  of  August,  the^squadron  again  set  sail,  the  weather 
being  fine,  and  proceeded  southward,  till  a  violent  gaie  from  the 
east  drove  one  t>f  the  vessels  on  shore,  but  the  crew  was  happily 
saved.  Coasting  south  with  the  four  remaining  ships,  they  ap- 
proached a  cape,  near  which  an  opening  was  discovered  which 
was  found  afterwards  to  be  a  strait.  Upon  this,  Magellan  gave 


MAGELLAN.  19 

orders  that  all  the  other  ships  should  carefully  examine  the  strait, 
promising  to  wait  for  them  a  certain  number  of  days.  While 
the  three  vessels  were  employed  in  this  expedition,  one  of  them 
was  driven  out  of  the  strait  by  the  reflux  of  the  tide,  when  the 
crew,  dissatisfied  with  their  situation,  rose  on  their  captain,  made 
him  prisoner,  and  again  set  sail  for  Europe.  .  After  waiting  seve- 
ral days  beyond  the  time  he  had  fixed,  Magellan  entered  the  strait 
or  arm  of  the  sea,  which  has  ever  since  retained  his  name.  The 
entrance  lies  in  52  degrees  south  latitude,  and  the  strait,  which  is 
about  110  leagues  in  length,  is  very  wide  in  some  places,  and  in 
others  not  more  than  half  a  league  from  shore  to  shore.  On  both 
sides  the  land  was  high,  and  the  'mountains  were  covered  with 
snow,  on  advancing  about  50  leagues  west  from  the  entrance. 

Jn  iib'nit  six  weeks  they  found  themselves  again  in  an  open  sea, 
i  :  coast  terminating  westward  in  a  cape,  and  the  shore  of  the 
c  -.ijtinent  taking  a  northerly  direction.  The  sight  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  gave  Magellan  the  utmost  joy,  he  being  the  first  Europe- 
an who  sailed  upon  it.  Proceeding  W.  X.  W.  he  arrived  at  the 
Ladrone  Islands,  to  which  he  gave  that  name  on  account  of  the 
thievish  disposition  of  the  natives. 

They  sailed  from  the  Ladrones  on  the  10th  of  March,  1524,  and 
after  visiting  a  number  of  islands,  entered  the  port  of  Lebu  on  the 
7th  of  April.  From  Lebu  they  sailed  to  the  island  of  Mathan, 
which  being  governed  by  two  kings,  and  one  of  them  refusing  to 
pav  tribute  to  the  king  of  Spain,  Magellan  prepared  to  reduce 
him.  He  inarched  into  the  interior  of  the  island  accompanied 
by  sixty  Europeans.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  three  distinct 
bodies  of  the  islanders,  whose  united  force  amounted  to  upwards 
t.f  six  thousand.  The  battle  was  for  some  time  doubtful,  till  Ma- 
gellan's impetuosity  carrying  him  too  far,  he  was  killed,  by  being 
wounded  in  the  leg  with  a  poisoned  arrow  and  stabbed  through 
th:  body  by  a  spear.  Eight  or  nine  of  the  Spaniards  and  fifteen 
of  the  Indians  were  also  slain.  After  the  death  of  the  admiral, 
new  commanders  were  chosen  from  among  the  surviving  officers, 
and  as  the  ships  were  now  in  a  very  bad  condition,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  make  use  of  one  to  repair  the  other  two. 

Sailing  W.  S.  W.  they  came  to  th?  rich  island  of  Borneo. 
From  this  place  they  sailed  to  Cimbubon,  where  they  were  de- 
tained forty  days  in  repairing  their  ships  and  taking  in  wood  and 
water.  Bending  their  course  hence  S.  E.  for  the  Moluccas,  they 
came  to  anchor  in  the  port  of  Tidore  on  the  8th  of  November. 
After  remaining  here  sometime,  they  set  sail  in  one  ship  alone 
and  with  fifty-nine  persons  on  board,  for  Europe.  To  double  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  with  the  greater  safety,  they  sailed  as  low  as 
42  degrees  S.  latitude,  where  they  were  obliged  to  wait  seven 
weeks  for  a  wind.  On  doubling  the  cape  they  were  much  dis- 
tressed by  hunger  and  sickness.  For  two  months  they  held  on  their 
course  to  the  N.  W.  without  touching  at  any  port,  during  which 


Sill    i-'RANCIS    DilAKE. 


time  they  lost  twenty-one  persons,  and  the  rest  were  on  the  point 
of  starving. 

In  this  situation  they  arrived  at  St.  Jago,  one  of  the  Cape  de 
Verd  Islands.  Finally  on  the  7th  of  September,  they  entered  St. 
Lucarin  Spain,  with  their  number  reduced  to  about  eighteen  per- 
sons. According  to  their  reckoning,  they  had  sailed  14,000  leagues, 
and  crossed  the  equator  six  times,  having  been  absent  three  years 
wanting  fourteen  days.  This  was  the  first  voyage  round  the* 
world  that  had  ever  been  made. 


SIR  FRANCIS  DRAKE. 

Mr.  Drake  was  first  apprenticed  to  the  master  of  a  small  ves- 
sel trading  to  France  and  Zealand;  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went 
purser  of  a  ship  to  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  at  twenty  made  a  voy- 
age to  the  coast  of  Guinea.  Having  obtained  Queen  Elizabeth's 
permission  for  an  expedition  against  the  Spaniards,  five  ships  were 
fitted  out,  having  on  board  164  able  men  and  a1  large  quantity  of 
provisions.  This  fleet  sailed  out  of  Plymouth  Sound  on  the  5th 
of  November  1577;  but  meeting  with  a  violent  storm,  they  were 
obliged  to  put  back  and  refit.  On  the  13th  of  December  they 
s'-iili-d  airain,  and  on  the  25th  passed  Cape  Cantin,  on  the  coast 
of  Barbary.  After  visiting  numerous  islands  and  meeting  with 
various  adventures,  having  passed  the  line,  they  at  length  dis- 
covered the  coast  of  Brazil  on  the  5th  of  April,  it  being  titty-four 
days  since  they  saw  land.  As  soon  as  the  people  on  shore  saw  tu»3 
ships,  they  made  large  fires  in  different  parts,  and  performed  cere- 
monies to  prevail  on  the  gods  ta  sink  the  vessels,  or  at  least  to 
prevent  their  landing.  Sailing  southward  they  anchored  in  fort 
St.  Julian,  where  the  admiral  going  on  shore  with  six  men,  some 
of  the  natives  slew  the  gunner,  whose  death  was  revenged  by  the 
commander,  who  killed  the  murderer  with  his  own  hand.  At 
this  place  Magellan  having  executed  one  of  his  company  who 
conspired  against  his  life,  Drake  caused  one  of  the  crew  named 
Doughty  to  be  tried  for  the  same  offence  against  himself;  and 
executed  him  on  the  same  gibbet. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  they  fell  in  with  the  strait  of  Ma- 
gellan, which  they  entered,  but  found  so  full  of  intricate  windings, 
that  the  same  wind  which  was  sometimes  in  their  favor,  was  at 
others  against  them.  After  several  difficulties  they  entered  the 
South  Sea  on  the  6th  of  September,  and  on  the  next  day  a  vio- 
lent storin  dr  >ye  them  200  leagues  south  of  the  strait,  where  they 
anchored  among  some  islands,  abounding  in  herbs  and  water. 


SIR    FRANCIS    DRAKE.  21 

Being  now  arrived  at  the  other  mouth  of  the  strait,  they  steered 
for  the  coast  of  Chili.  On  their  course  they  met  an  Indian  in  a 
canoe,  who  informed  them  that  at  St.  Jago  there  was  a  large 
ship  laden  for  Peru.  The  admiral  rewarded  him  for  this  informa- 
tion, whereupon  he  conducted  them  to  the  place  where  the  ship 
lay  at  anchor.  There  were  only  eight  Spaniards  and  three  nf 
groes  on  board,  who  mistaking  them  for  friends,  welcomed  thei. 
and  invited  them  to  drink  Chili  wine.  Drake  accepted  the  invi- 
tation, and  going  on  board,  put  them  under  hatches;  arriving 
on  shore  he  rifled  the  town  and  chapel,  from  which  he  took  great 
quantities  of  silver  and  gold.  Proceeding  to  sea,  they  arrived 
at  the  port  of  Tarapaxa,  where  some  of  them  going  on  shore- 
found  a  Spaniard  asleep,  with  eighteen  bars  of  silver  laying  by 
his  side,  which  they  took  without  waking  him. 

Entering  the  port  of  Lima  on  the  13th  of  February,  they  found 
twelve  sail  of  ships  at  anchor  unguarded,  the  crews  being  all  on 
shore.  Examining  these  vessels  they  found  much  plate,  together 
with  rich  silks  and  linens,  which  they  took  away;  but  having 
learned  that  a  rich  ship  called  the  Cacafuego  had  lately  sailed  from 
that  harbor  for  Taila,  the  admiral  determined  to  follow  her. 
Having  come  up  with  the  chase,  they  gave  her  three  shots, 
which  brought  away  the  mizzen-mast,  whereupon  they  boarded  her, 
and  found  thirteen  chests  full  of  rials  of  plate;  eighty  pounds 
weight  of  gold,  a  quantity  of  jewels,  and  twenty-six  tons  of  silver 
in  bars. 

They  subsequently  took  several  other  rich  prizes,  and  Drake 
having  now  revenged  himself  on  the  Spaniards,  began  to  think  of 
the  best  way  of  returning  to  England.  To  return  by  the  strait 
of  Magellan  would  be  to  throw  himself  into  the  hands  of  the 
Spaniards;  he  therefore  determined  to  sail  westward  to  the  East 
Indies,  and  return  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  But  wanting 
wind,  he  sailed  towards  the  north,  and  in  38  degrees  N.  latitude, 
discovered  a  country,  which  from  its  white  cliffs  he  called  New 
Albion,  though  it  is  now  known  by  the  name  of  California.  Here 
they  were  received  with  much  hospitality  by  the  natives,  and  the 
king  made  Drake  a  solemn  tender  of  his  whole  kingdom.  Sail- 
ing hence,  they  saw  the  Ladrones  on  the  13th  of  October.  The 
admiral  held  on  his  course  without  delay,  and  on  the  4th  of  No- 
vember, fell  in  with  the  Moluccas.  Having  arrived  at  a  little  islan/ 
south  of  Celebes,  they  staid  twenty-six  days,  in  order  to  repair  th« 
ships.  Setting  sail  hence,  they  ran  among  a  number  of  small  isl- 
ands, and  the  wind  shifting  about  suddenly,  drove  them  upon  a  rock, 
on  the  evening  of  the  9th  of  January,  1579,  where  they  stuck  fast, 
till  four  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day.  In  this  extremity  they 
lightened  the  vessel,  by  taking  out  eight  pieces  of  ordnance  and 
three  tons  of  cloves.  .On  the  18th  of  June,  they  doubled  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  and  on  the  22nd  of  July  arrived  at  Sierra  Leone, 
where  they  found  a  great  number  of  elephants.  They  staid 


22  THE    BEACON    LIGHT. 

here  two  days,  and  holding  on  their  course  for  Plymouth,  arrived 
there  on  Monday,  the  26th  of  September,  1580;  but  according  to 
their  own  reckoning,  on  Sunday  the  25th,  having  gone  round  the 
world  in  two  years,  ten  months,  and  a  few  days.  The  honor  of 
knighthood  was  conferred  on  Drake,  and  a  chair  was  made  from 
his  ship  which  is  still  shown  as  a  curiosity  at  Oxford. 


THE  BEACON-LIGHT 

Darkness  was  deep'ning  o'er  the  seas, 

And  still  the  hulk  drove  on; 
No  sail  to  answer  to  the  breeze, 

Her  masts  and  cordage  gone: 
Gloomy  and  drear  her  course  of  fear, 

Each  looked  but  for  a  grave, 
When  full  in  sight,  the  Beacon-light 

Came  streaming  o'er  the  wave! 

Then  wildly  rose  the  gladd'ning  shout 

Of  all  that  hardy  crew — 
Boldly  they  put  the  helm  about, 

And  through  the  surf  they  flew; 
Storm  was  forgot,  toil  heeded  not, 

And  loud  the  cheer  they  gave, 
As  full  in  sight,  the  Beacon-light 

Came  streaming  o'er  the  wave! 

And  gaily  oft  the  tale  they  told, 

When  they  were  safe  on  shore, 
How  hearts  had  sunk,  and  hope  grown  cold, 

Amid  the  billows'  roar; 
That  not  a  star  had  shone  afar, 

By  its  pale  beam  to  save, 
When  full  in  sight,  the  Beacon-light, 

Came  streaming  o'er  the  wave' 


THE    SPANISH    WRECK.  23 


THE  SPANISH  WRECK. 

•  a  • 

About  the  year  1683,,  Sir  William  Phips,  afterwards  celebrated 
for  his  attempts  to  take  Quebec,  in  1G90,  applied  to  tUe  English 
Government  for  aid  and  permission  to  fit  out  a  suitable  vessel  for 
the  purpose  of  searching  for  the  wreck  of  a  Spanish  ship  which 
had  be-en  lost  near  one  of  the  West  India  Islands,  richly  laden 
with  silver.  His  request,  after  some  delay,  was  granted  and  a  frig- 
ate called  Algier  Rose,  carrying  eighteen  guns  and  manned  with 
ninety  five  men,  was  placed  under  his  command.  He  arrived  in 
New  England  the  same  year  and  proceeded  forthwith  to  the  place 
where  the  treasure  was  reported  to  have  been  lost  He  encoun- 
tered many  difficulties  in  his  voy age  and  came  nig h,  moie  than  once, 
losing  his  'ife  by  the  mutiny  of  his  crew.  Itis  reported  of  him  that 
while  his  ship  lay  by  an  island,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  his  men 
to  take  on  board  a  fresh  supply  of  wood  and  water,  they  agreed 
among  themselves  to  take  the  ship  into  their  own  hands,  and  make 
a  piratical  expedition  into  the  South  Seas.  They  were  all  on 
the  island  with  the  exception  of  Captain  Phips  and  eight  or  ten 
of  the  crew.  Ajnong  these  was  the  carpenter,  whose  services 
they  could  not  well  dispense  with,  and  they  accordingly  sent  to 
the  ship,  requesting  him  to  come  to  them,  as  they  had  something 
for  him  to  do.  N,p  sooner  had  he  come  among  them,  than  they 
disclosed  to  him  the  cruel  project,  which  was  to  set  the  Captain, 
and  the  above  named  eight  or  ten  men  upon  the  island,  and  then 
leave  them  to  perish,  while  they  would  take  the  ship  into  their 
own  hands  and  perform  the  proposed  voyage.  They  gave  the 
carpenter  half  an  hour  to  consider  of  the  subject,  whether  he 
would  join  with  them  or  not,  and  sent  him  back  accompanied  by 
a  seaman  to  prevent  any  interview  between  him  and  the  Captain, 
by  which  a  disclosure  could  be  made.  While  at  work  on  the  ship, 
he  suddenly  ieigned  an  attack  of  the  cholic,  and  rushed  into  the 
cabin  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  relief,  and  while  there,  gave  the 
Captain  an  account  of  the  determination  of  his  crew.  He  direct- 
ed the  carpenter  to  return  upon  the  island,  and  give  his  consent 
to  join  the  conspiracy. 

When  the  carpenter  had  left  the  ship,  the  Captain  ordered  the 
men  on  board,  to  prepare  the  pieces  for  action,  removed  the  plank 
by  which  a  landing  had  been  effected,  and  ordered  them  not  to 
permit  any  one  of  those,  save  the  carpenter,  to  approach  the  ship. 
A.  quantity  of  provisions  had  been  carried  on  shore  and  covered 
jith  a  tent,  and  two  or  three  guns  placed  near  to  protect  them 
from  the  Spaniards  who  might  be  passing  that  way:  these  guns 
were  all  charged,  ready  to  be  made  use  of  in  the  event  oT  an  at- 
tack from  the  conspirators.  The  disaffected  part  of  the  crew  now 
returned  to  the  ship  for  the  purpose  of  executing  their  plans. 


24  THE    SPANISH     WRECK. 

No  sooner  had  they  come  in  sight,  than  the  captain  ordered  then, 
not  to  approach,  saying  to  them  that  their  intentions  had  been 
discovered,  and  that  they  were  to  he  left  upon  the  island,  there  to 
remain  and  perish.  Seeing  how  hopeless  their  condition  was 
become,  they  gathered  courage  from  despair,  and  resolved  to 
rescue  the  provisions  from  the  ship,  and  began  to  make  a  bold 
push.  As  soon  as  they  began  to  approach,  the  captain  in  a  res 
olute  manner,  cried  out,  "  stand  off,  ye  wretches,  at  your  peril! 
— They  quietly  relinquished  their  determination  to  attack,  and 
fell  upon  their  knees,  imploring  pardon,  and  offered  to  comply 
with  any  disposal  he  might  make  of  them,  provided  he  would  re- 
ceive them  on  board.  After  having  kept  them  on  their  knees 
long  enough,  he  granted  their  petition  and  received  them  into 
the  ship,  and  sailed  immediately  for  the  island  of  Jainaica,  there 
put  them  on  shore,  and  employed  other  seamen  in  their  place. 

He  now  commenced  an  examination  for  the  wreck,  and  after 
spending  a  long  time  in  an  almostlruitless  search,  sailed  for  Eng- 
land. By  the  advice,  however,  of  an  old  Spaniard,  he  had  satisii- 
ed  himself  of  the  prospect  of  succeeding  in  accomplishing  his  ob- 
ject, and  determined  to  return  again  and  prosecute  his  plan.  His 
crew  being  composed  of  strangers,  made  him  think  it  advisable  to 
change  them  for  others  in  whom  he  could  have  greater  confidence 
in  the  event  his  labors  should  be  crowned  with  success. 

On  his  return  to  England,  his  conduct  gained  the  royal  appro- 
bation, and  the  applause  of  the  nobles,  and  many  distinguished 
men  encouraged  him  to  engage  in  a  second  expedition  and  under 
more  favorable  and  promising  circumstances. 

His  project  was  opposed,  however,  by  many  powerful  enemies; 
but,  prompted  by  the  proverb,  lie  >i-h:>  can  wait,  hath  what  he  de- 
sir'eth,  he  overcame  ever/ obstacle  and  disappointment,  and,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Duke  of  Albemarlc,  had  a  new  ship  titted 
out  with  a  more  honest  crew,  furnished  with  instruments  and  con- 
veniences suited  to  the  nature  of  the  expedition.  Arriving  at 
Port  de  la  Plata,  he  made  a  large  canoe  from  the  cotton  tree  suf- 
ficient to  carry  eight  men,  and  with  the  old  Spaniard  for  a  guide, 
again  commenced  examination  for  the  wreck.  There  they  float- 
ed about,  fishing  for  their  treasure  among  dangerous  reefs  and 
shoals  for  many  weeks  without  success.  So  fruitless  was  the 
search  that  more  than  once  had  he,  as  well  as  his  men,  determin- 
ed to  abandon  the  work.x  At  length,  when  returning  to  the  ship, 
discouraged  by  repeated  disappointment,  and  the  hopelessness  ol 
a  successful  issue  of  the  project,  one  of  the  men  looking  into  the 
water  discovered  a  feather,  as  he  thought,  growing  out  of  a  rock 
Thinking  that  they  would  not  go  back  to  the  Captain  without 
something  to  present  him,  they  ordered  an  Indian  to  dive  down 
and  bring  it  up,  which  having  done,  he  gave  an  account  of  many 
large  guns  which  he  saw  in  his  descent.  The  diver  again  went 
down,  and,  to  the  joy  and  astonishment  of  the  men,  returned  with 


THE    SPANISH    WRECK.  25 

a  sow  or  lump  of  silver,  which  turned  out  to  be  worth  from  ten  to 
t'.velve  hundn  d  dollars.  Thev  buoyed  the  place  and  returned  to 
th*'  Captain  orerj'-ved  \vith  their  good  fortune,  as  it  \vas  well  known 
that  the  wreck  was  one  of  the  ships  bel  :nging  to  the  king  of  Spain, 
wlii.-h  had  been  lost  on  a  returning  voyage  from  South  America 
lad'-n  with  silver  bullion.  The  loss  of  the  ship  is  supposed 
to  have  happened  about  the  year  1637,  and  the  immense  treasures 
i  were  reported  to  have  been  sunk  with  her  were  often  made 
the  subject  of  ingenious  speculation,  and  many  had  sunk  their 
<>u-;i  fortunes  and  efforts  to  find  it.  It  was  reserved,  however,  in 
the  -ilent  depths,  that  Capt.  Phips  might  be  the  fortunate  finder  of 
it  at  so  late  a  period  after  its  loss.  He  now'fbund  in  the  bullion 
brought  to  him  full  assurance  that  destiny  had  allotted  to  him  to  suck 
of  the  abundance  of  the  seas  and  of  treasures  hid  in  the  sand. 

Having  prepared  his  instruments  for  fishing  up  the  contents  of 
the  wreck,  all  hands  were  now  busily  employed  in  the  work,  and 
in  a  short  time  they  succeeded  in  procuring  the  astonishing 
amount  of  thirty-tiro  tons  of  silver.  In  addition  to  this  Captain 
Adderly,  an  adventurer  from  Providence,  and  particular  friend  of 
Captain  Phips,  obtained  six  tons  more  from  the  same  wreck  at  the 
same  time.  It  was  by  an  agreement  that  Adderly  met  Phips  at 
the  place  of  the  wreck  with  a  small  vessel.  He  was  so  overjoyed 
with  the  extent  of  his  riches  and  so  elated  at  such  unlocked  for 
acquisitions,  that  he  lived  but  a  little  while  to  enjoy  them.  It 
is  said  that  he  went  to  the  island  of  Bermudas  where  he  became 
insane  and  died  about  two  years  after  the  six  tons  of  silver»came 
into  his  hands.  Phips,  however,  made  a  more  profitable  account 
expedition,  and  lived  to  enjoy  the  proceeds  of  it  without 
prejudice  to  his  health  or  destruction  of  his  mind.  In  a  few  weeks 
a''ler  leaving  the  wrer-k,  he  arrived  safe  in  London,  in  1687,  with  a 
car^o  valued  at  near  FIFTEEN  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  He 
made  an  honest  distribution  of  it  among  those  who  aided  him  in 
fitting  him  out  with  a  vessel  and  proper  conveniences,  and  receiv- 
ed abouta^fcnt  \-five  thousand  dollars  for  his  share  of  the  profits. 
The  Duke  of  Albemarle,  out  of  respect  to  his- honesty  and  fideli- 
tv.  presented  his  wife,  who  was  then  in  Xew  England,  a  gold  cup 
worth  ''near  a  thousand  pounds."  And  King  James  as  a  reward 
for  his  important  services  in  bringing  such  amount  of  property 
into  the  country  conferred  on  him  the  honor  of  Knighthood. 

Sir  William  Phips  was  born  Febuary  2,  1650,  at  a  despicable 
plantation  on  the  river  Ktnnebeck.  He  removed  to  Boston  where 
he  married  a  daughter  of  Roger  Spencer,  and  pursued  the  busi- 
ness of  a  smith,  which  was  the  occupation  of  his  father.  It  is 
said  that  he  frequently  promised  his  wife  that  he  would  one  day 
command  a  JRng  8  sin.)  and  be  the  oiujnr  of  a  fair  brick  house  hi 
the  G-nen  lane  of  JYorlk  Boilon,  all  which  proved  true,  for  after 
the  discovery  of  the  wreck,  he  returned  into  Xew  England,  in 
the  summer  of  the  year  1688,  "able  after  five  year's  bsence,  to 


26  DAMPIER. 

entertain  his  lady  with  some  accomplishment  of  his  predictions: 
and  then  built  himself  a  fair  house  in  the  very  place  which  he 
foretold." 

Sir  William  Phips  was  industrious,  courageous,  and  persevering: 
his  principal  fault  was,  occasionally  indulging  his  temper.  This 
failing  he  did  not  overcome  until  late  in  life.  It  is  this  day  said  by 
the  very  aged  people  living  at  the  north  part  of  Boston,  where  he 
resided,  that  when  he  was  governor  of  Massachusetts,  he  had  a 
quarrel  with  a  truckman,  at  which  time  he  was  in  so  great  a  passion, 
that  he  threw  off  his  coat  and  dared  the  man  to  fight.  After  this, 
however,  he  became  very  serious  and  devout,  when  he  joined  the 
Church,  made  a  written  acknowledgement  of  his  past  errors,  and  in 
terms  of  deep  humility,  gave  evidence  of  a  pious  mind. 

Phips  was  made  "Captain  General  and  Commander-in-Chief 
of  Massachusetts  Bay,7'  in  1690. 

The  Brick  House  which  he  built  stands  in  Salem  Street,  and  is 
improved  as  an  asylum  for  orphan  boys. 


DAMPIER. 

William  Dampier  was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  in  the 
year  1652.  He  lost  both  his  parents  when  very  young,  and  was 
bound*  apprentice  to  the  master  of  a  ship  at  Weymouth,  with 
whom  he  made  a  voyage  to  France  and  another  to  New  England. 
In  1673,  he  served  in  the  Dutch  war,  and  was  afterwards  an  over- 
seer to  a  plantation  in  Jamaica.  He  next  visited  the  bay  of  Cain- 
peachy  as  a  logwood  cutter,  and,  after  once  more  visiting  England, 
engaged  in  a  band  of  Buccaneers,  as  they  called  themselves,  al- 
though in  reality  pirates,  with  whom  he  roved  on  the  Peruvian 
coasts.  He  next  visited  Virginia,  and  engaged  in  an  expedition 
against  the  Spanish  settlements  in  the  South  Seas.  They  accor- 
dingly sailed  in  August,  1683,  and,  after  taking  several  prizes  on 
the  coasts  of  Peru  and  Chili,  the  party  experienced  various  fortune 
but  no  very  signal  success.  Dampier,  wishing  to  obtain  ,801116 
knowledge  of  the  northen  coast  of  Mexico,  joined  the  crew  of  a 
captain  Swan,  who  cruised  in  the  hopes  of  meeting  the  annual 
royal  Manilla  ship,  which,  however,  escaped  them.  Swan  and 
Dampier  were  resolved  to  steer  for  the  East  Indies,  and  they 
accordingly  sailed  to  the  Piscadores,  to  Bouton  island,  to  New 
Holland  and  to  INicohar,  where  Dampier  and  others  were  left 
ashore  to  recover  their  health.  Their  numbers  gave  them  hopes 
of  bein£  able  to  navigate  a  canoe  to  Achin,  in  which  they  suc- 
ceeded, after  encountering  a  tremendous  storm,  which  threatened 
them  with  unavoidable  destruction.  After  making  several  trading 


A    MAN    OVERBOARD.  27 

vovagcs  with  a  Captain  Weldon,  Dampier  entered,  as  a  gunner,  the 
Efigiish  factory  at  Bencoolen.  Upon  this  coast  he  remained  until 
1G91.  when  he  found  means  to  return  home,  and,  being  in  want 
of  money,  sold  his  property  in  a  curiously  painted  or  tattoed  Indian 
prince,  who  v,  as  shown  as  a  curiosity,  and  who  ultimately  died 
of  the  small  pox  at  Oxford.  Dampier  is  next  heard  of  as  a 
commander,  inthe  king's  service,  of  a  sloop  of  war  of  twelve  guns 
and  fifty  men,  probably  fitted  out  for  a  voyage  of  discovery.  After 
experiencing  a  variety  of  adventures  with  a  discontented  crew, 
this  vessel  foundered  off  the  Isle  of  Ascension,  his  men  with  dif- 
ficulty reaching  land.  They  were  released  from  this  island  by  an 
East  India  ship,  in  which  Dampier  came  to  England.  He  after- 
wards commanded  a  ship  in  the  South  Seas,  and  accompanied 
the  expedition  of  Captain  Woodes  Rogers  as  pilot.  * 


A  MAN  OVERBOARD. 

Sailors  are  men  of  rough  habits,  but  their  feelings  are  not  by 
any  means  so  coarse ;  if  they  possess  little  prudence  or  worldly 
consideration,  they  are  likewise  very  free  from  selfishness;  gen- 
erally speaking,  too,  they  are  much  attached  to  one  another,  and 
will  make  great  sacrifices  to  their  messmates  or  shipmates  when 
opportunities  occur. 

I  remember  once,  when  crusing  ofFTerceira  in  the  Endymion, 
that  a  man  fell  overboard  and  was  drowned.  After  the  usual  con- 
fusion, and  long  search  in  vain,  the  boats  were  hoisted  up,  and 
the  hands  called  to  make  sail.  I  was  officer  of  the  forecastle  and 
on  looking  about  to  see  if  all  the  men  were  at  their  station,  missed 
one  of  the  foretop  men.  Just  at  that  moment  I  observed  some 
one  curled  up,  and  apparently  hiding  himself  under  the  bow  of 
the  barge,  between  the  boat  and  the  booms.  'Hillo!'  I  said, 
'who  are  you?  What  are  you  doing  there,  you  skulker?  Why 
are  you  not  at  your  station?' 

'  I  am  not  skulking,  sir,'  said  the  poor  fellow,  the  furrows  in 
whose  bronzed  and  weatherbeaten  cheek  were  running  down 
with  tears.  The  man  we  had  just  lost  had  been  his  messmate 
and  friend,  he  told  me,  for  ten  years.  I  begged  his  pardon,  in 
full  sincerity,  for  having  used  such  harsh  words  to  him  at  such  a 
moment,  and  bid  him  go  below  to  his  birth  for  the  rest  of  the  day. 
— 'Never  mind,  sir,  never  mind,'  said  the  kind  hearted  seaman, 
'it  can't  be  helped.  You  meant  no  harm,  sir  I  am  as  well  on  deck 
as  below.  Bill's  gone  sir,  but  I  must  do  my  duty.'  So  saying,'  he 
drew  the  sleeve  of  his  jacket  twice  or  thrice  across  h  s  eyes,  and 


28  A    MAN    OVERBOARD. 

mustering  his  grief  within  his  breast,  walked  to  his   station    as  if 
nothing   had  happened. 

In^the  same  ship  and  nearly  about  the  same  time,  the  people 
were  bathing  along  side  in  a  calm  at  sea.  It  is  customary  on  such 
occasions  to  spread  a  studding-sail  on  the  water,  by  means  of 
lines  from  the  fore  and  main  yard  arms,  for  the  use  of  those  who 
either  cannot  swim,  or  who  are  not  expert  in  this  art,  so  very 
important  to  all  seafaring  people.  Half  a  dozen  of  the  ship's  boys 
were  floundering  about  in  the  sails,  and  sometimes  even  venturing 
beyond  the  leech  rope.  One  of  the  least  of  these  urchins,  bui 
not  the  least  courageous  of  their  number,  when  taunted  by  his 
more  skilful  companions  with  being  afraid,  struck  out  boldly  be- 
yond the  prescribed  bounds.  He  had  not  gone  much  farther  than 
his  own  length,  however,  along  the  surface  of  the  fathomless  sea, 
when  his  heart  failed  him,  poor  little  man;  and  long  with  his  con- 
fidence away  also  went  his  power  of  keeping  his  head  above  »the 
water.  So  down  he  sank  rapidly,  to  the  speechless  horror  of  the 
other  boys,  who  of  course,  could  lend  the  drowning  child  no  help. 

The  captain  of  the  forecastle,  a  tall,  fine-looking,  hard-a-weath- 
er  fellow,  was  standing  on  the  shank  of  the  sheet  anchor  with 
his  arms  across,  and  his  well  varnished  canvass  hat  drawn  so 
much  over  his  eyes  that  it  was  difficult  to  tell  whether  he  was 
awake  or,  merely  dozing  in  the  sun,  as  he  leaned  his  back  against 
the  fore-topmast  backstay.  The  seaman,  however,  had  been  at- 
tentively watching  the  young  party  all  the  time,  and  rather  fear- 
ing that  mischief  might  ensue  from  their  rashness,  he  had  grunted 
out  a  warning  to  them  from  time  to  time,  to  which  they  paid  no 
sort  of  attention.  At  last  he  desisted,  saying  they  might  drown 
themselves  if  they  had  a  mind,  for  never  a  bit  would  he  help 
them;  but  no  sooner  did  the  sinking  figure  of  the  adventurous 
little  boy  catch  his  eye,  than,  diver  fashion,  he  joined  the  palms  of 
his  hands  over  his  head,  inverted  his  position  in  one  instant,  and 
urging  himself  into  swifter  motion  by  a  smart  push  with  his  feet 
against  the  anchor,  shot  head  foremost  into  the  water.  The  poor 
!;;<1  sunk  so  rapidly  that  he  was  at  least-a  couple  of  fathoms  under 
the  surface  before  he  was  arrested  by  the  grip  of  the  sailor,  who 
soon  rose  again,  bearing  the  bewildered  boy  in  his  hand,  and  call- 
ing to  the  other  youngsters  to  take  better  care  of  their  companion, 
chucked  him  right  into  the  belly  of  the  sail  in  the  midst  of  the 
party.  The  fore-sheet  was  hanging  in  the  calm,  nearly  into  the 
water,  and  by  it  the  dripping  seaman  scrambled  up  again  to  his 
old  birth  on  the  anchor,  shook  himself  like  a  great  Newfoundland 
do(_r,  and  then  jumping  on  the  deck,  proceeded  across  the  forecastle 
to  shift  himself. 

At  the  top  of  th%  ladder  he  was  stopped  by  the  marine  officer, 
who  had  witnessed  the  whole  transaction,  as  he  sat  across  the 
gangway  hammocks,  watching  the  swimmers,  and  trying  to  get 
his  own  consent  to  undergo  the  labor  of  undressing.  Said  the  soldier 


CAPTAIX    \\OODES    ROGERS.  29 

to  the  sailor  "  That  was  very  well  done  of  you,  my  man,  and  right 
well  deserves  a  glass  of  grog.  Say  so  to  the  gun-room  steward 
as  you  pass;  and  tell  him  it  is  my  orders  to  fill  you  out  a  stiff  nor- 
wester. "  The  soldier's  offer  was  kindly  meant,  but  rather  clumsily 
timid,  at  least  so  thought  Jack:  for, though  he  inclined  his  head  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  attention,  and  instinctively  touched  his  hat 
when  spoken  to  by  an  officer,  he  made  no  reply  till  out  of  the 
marine's  hearing,  when  he  laughed,  or  rather  chuckled  out  to  the 
people  near  him,  "Does  the  good  gentleman  suppose  I  '11  take 
a  glass  of  grog  for  saving  a  boy's  life." — Capt.  Hall. 


CAPTAIN  WOODES  ROGERS. 

This  voyage  was  undertaken  chiefly  by  the  merchants  of  Bristo,. 
Captain  Woodes  Rogers  was  appointed  commander  in  chief,  and 
William  Dampier  first  pilot  of  the  expedition.  They  sailed  from 
King-road,  Bristol,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1708,  their  force  con- 
sisting of  the  Duke,  a  ship  of  three  hundred  tons  burden,  thirty  guns, 
and  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  commanded  by  Rogers;  and  the 
Duchess  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  tons,  twenty-six  guns,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  men,Nunder  the  command  of  captain  Courtney. 
They  entered  the  harbor  of  Cork  on  the  6th  of  August,  where 
they  enlisted  a  number  of  seamen  in  the  room  of  about  forty  fel- 
lows who  had  ran  away.  They  set  sail  on  the  1st  of  September, 
with  a  very  mixed  crew,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  discover- 
ed a  sail,  to  which  they  immediately  gave  chase.  On  coming  up 
with  her  she  proved  to  be  a  Swedish  ship,  and  was  permitted  t6 
proceed  unmolested  on  her  way.  During  the  time  the  ship  was 
in  custody,  a  design  had  been  privately  formed  on  board  the  Duke, 
by  four  inferior  officers,  to  make  a  prize  of  her;  and  when  they 
found  she  was  given  up,  they  began  to  mutiny;  but  the  boatsman, 
being  displaced,  and,  with  ten  others,  put  in  irons,  and  a  severe 
whipping  given  to  some  of  the  leaders  of  the  disturbance,  all  was 
quiet  again.  On  the  14th,  however,  some  of  the  ship's  company, 
headed  by  a  daring  fellow,  came  up  to  captain  Rogers  at  the 
steerage-door,  and  demanded  the  boatswain  out  of  irons.  The 
captain  gave  them  good  words,  and  having  taken  the  ringleader,  as 
if  to  speak  with  him  on  the  quarter-deck,  had  him  suddenly  seized 
by  the  help  of  the  officers,  and  lashed  by  one  of  his  own  followers.. 
On  the  16th  the  captain  released  the  prisoners  from  irons  on  their 
acknowledging  their  sorrow  for  what  they  had  done. 

On  the  17th,  gained  sight  of  the  peak  of  Teneriffe,  and  the 
next  day  took  a  Spanish  bark  of  t<Tfenty-five  tons.  On  the  25th 
of  September  passed  the  tropic,  when  about  sixty  of  the  crew,  who 


30 


CAPTAIN  WOODES  ROGERS. 


had  never  been  this  course  before,  were  ducked  three  times 
by  hoisting  them  up  halfway  the  main-yard,  with  a  rope  to  which 
they  were  made  fast,  and  sousing  them  into  the  water.  After 
visiting  the  Cape  de  Verd  islands,  where  they  took  in  water  and 
provisions,  the  ships  again  set  sail  on  the  8th  of  October,  in  the 
evening.  On  the  14th,  they  came  within  sight  of  Brazil,  and  soon 
after  came  to  anchor  before  the  island  of  Grande,  in  eleven  fath- 
oms water.  While  they  lay  here  another  quarrel  arose  on  board 
the  Duchess,  and  eight  of  the  ringleaders  were  put  in  irons.  On 
the  25th,  two  men  deserted  and  made  their  escape  into  the  woods; 
but,  in  the  night,  were  so  terrified  by  the  noise  made  by  the  baboons 
and  monkeys,  that  they  ran  back,  plunged  into  the  water,  and  pray- 
ed to  be  taken  on  board  again 


Peak  of  Teneriffe. 


The  ships  sailed  out  of  the  bay  of  Grande  on  the  first  of  De- 
cember, steering  for  Juan  Fernandez,  and  on  the  5th  of  January, 
encountered  a  violent  storm,  which  drove  such  a  quantity  of 
water  into  the  Duchess,  that  they  expected  she  would  sink  every 
moment.  As  the  men  were  going  to  supper  about  nine  o'clock 
at  night,  she  shipped  a  sea  at  the  poop,  which  beat  in  the  bulk- 
head and  all  the  cabin  windows.  On  deck  the  yawl  was  staved  in 
pieces  and  one  or  two  of  the  men  severely  hurt.  On  the  17th, 
took  an  observation,  by  which  they  found  they  had  got  round 
Cape  Horn  and  were  to  the  northward  of  Cape  Victoria.  About 
this  time  the  scurvy  began  to  make  great  havoc  among  the  crews. 
They  now  bore  away  for  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  which 
appeared  in  sight  on  the  last  day  of  January.  On  going  on  shore 
here  they  discovered  a  man  clothed  in  goat-skins,  whose  name 


STORY   OF    ALEXANDER    SELKIRK.  31 

was  Alexander  Selkirk.  His  story  will  be  found  at  the  end  of 
this  narrative.  They  remained  at  this  island  till  the  14th  of 
Fehruary,  having  fully  refreshed  themselves,  when  they  weighed 
anchor,  with  a  fair  gale  at  south-east. 

After  taking  a  number  of  valuable  prizes,  on  the  23d  of  April, 
captain  Rogers  with  some  of  his  men  made  a  descent  in  boats  and 
barks  upon  the  town  of  Guiaquil,  which  they  took  with  but  little 
resistance  and  plundered  of  great  quantities  of  money,  jewels,  and 
provisions.  He  then  marched  out  of  the  town,  and  returned  on 
board  his  own  ship,  where  he  was  heartily  greeted  by  those  of  his 
people  whom  he  had  left  behind.  They  afterwards  obtained  a 
considerable  sum  as  a  ransom  for  the  town,  and  bore  away  for  the 
Gallapagos  islands,  with  a  strong  gale  at  S.  S.  W. ;  discovered  land 
on  the  17th  of  May,  but  found  it  barren  and  destitute  of  water. 
Continuing  on  their  voyage,  they  took  several  rich  prizes,  visited 
Gorgona  and  the  Gallapagos,  and  sailing  for  the  East  Indies  ar- 
rived at  the  islands  of  Serpana  and  Guam.  They  left  the  latter 
place  on  the  21st  of  March,  and  on  the  25th  of  May,  made  Bou- 
ton.  They  sailed  from  this  island  on  the  8th  of  June,  and  on  the 
23d  of  July,  they  hove  down  upon  Horn  Island  to  careen  their 
vessels.  Having  supplied  themselves  with  such  necessaries  as 
they  wanted,  they  left  Batavia  on  the  12th  of  October,  and  sailed 
for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

They  came  to  anchor  in  the  Cape  harbor,  on 'the  28th  of  De- 
cember. The  English  saluted  the  Dutch  fort  with  nine  guns; 
which  compliment  was  returned  with  seven.  At  this  place  they 
waited  for  the  convoy  of  the  Dutch  fleet  till  April,  on  the  5th  of 
which  month  the  Dutch  admiral  hoisted  a  blue  flag,  and  loosed  his 
fore-top-sail,  as  a  signal  to  unmoor;  and  the  next  day  the  whole 
fleet  sailed  with  a  fresh  breeze  at  S.  S.  E.  On  the  23d  of  July 
they  arrived  in  the  Texel,  and  sailing  hence  with  seven  prizes, 
came  to  the  moorings  in  the  Downs  on  the  2d  of  October,  1711. 


STORY  OF  ALEXANDER  SELKIRK. 

Mr.  Selkirk,  whose  adventures  gave  rise  to  the  celebrated  story 
of  Robinson  Crusoe,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  bred  a  sailor 
from  his  youth.  He  was  left  on  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez, 
on  account  of  a  difference  between  him  and  his  captain,  which, 
together  with  the  ship's  being  leaky,  made  him  at  first  willing  to 
stay  there;  but  afterwards  wishing  to  go  on  board,  the  captain 
would  not  receive  him.  Selkirk  had  with  him  his  clothes  and 
bedding,  also,  a  firelock*,  a  little  powder,  some  bullets  and  tobacco; 
a  hatchet,  a  kettle,  a  knife,  a  bible,  and  a  few  mathematical  in- 


32  STORY    OP    ALEXANDER   SELKIRK. 

struments  and  books.  He  diverted  and  provided  for  himself  as  well 
as  he  could,  but  for  the  first  eight  months  he  was  extremely  melan- 
choly, and  could  hardly  support  the  terror  of  being  alone  in  such 
a  desolate  place.  He  built  two  huts  with  pimento  trees,  covered 
them  with  long  grass,  and  lined  them  with  the  skins  of  goats,  which 
he  killed  with  his  gun,  as  he  wanted,  so  long  as  his  powder,  of 
which  there  was  but  a  pound,  lasted.  He  procured  fire,  by  rub- 
bing two  sticks  of  pimento  wood  upon  his  knee. 

In  the  smaller  hut,  which  was  at  some  distance  from  the  other, 
he  dressed  his  victuals;  and  in  the  larger  he  slept,  and  employed 
himself  in  reading  and  praying;  so  that  he  said  he  was  a  better 
Christian  while  in  this  solitude  than  he  ever  was  before,  or  than, 
he  feared,  he  should  ever  be  again. 

The  pimento  wood,  which  burnt  very  clear,  served  him  both 
for  fire  and  candle,  and  refreshed  him  with  its  fragrant  smell.  He 
could  have  procured  fish  enough,  but  would  not  eat  them  for  want 
of  salt;  except  a  sort  of  cray-fish,  which  were  very  good,  and  as 
large  as  our  lobsters.  Of  the  goafs-flesh  he  made  excellent  broth. 
He  kept  an  account  of  five  hundred  of  these  animals  which  he 
had  killed,  and  as  many  more  which  he  caught;  and,  having  mark- 
ed them  on  the  ear,  let  them  go  again.  When  his  powder  was 
gone,  he  took  them  by  outrunning  them.  His  agility  in  pursuing 
a  goat  had  once  like  to  have  cost  him  his  life;  he  pursued  it  with 
so  much  eagerness,  that  he  caught  hold  of  it  on  the  brink  of  a 
precipice,  of  which  he  was  not  aware,  as  the  bushes  concealed  it 
from  his  sight;  so  that  he  fell  with  the  goat  down  the  precipice, 
a  prodigious  height,  and  was  so  stunned  and  bruised  with  the  fall, 
that  he  lay  there  insensible  about  twenty-four  hours,  and  when  he 
came  to  his  senses,  he  found  the  goat  dead  under  him.  He  was 
so  hurt  that  he  was  hardly  able  to  crawl  to  his  hut,  which  was 
about  a  mile  distant,  nor  was  he  able  to  go  abroad  again  in  less 
than  ten  days.  He  came  at  length  to  relish  his  meat  without  salt 
or  bread,  and  found  plenty  of  good  turnips,  which  had  been  sowed 
there  by  captain  Dampier's  men,  and  had  now  overspread  some 
acres  of  ground.  He  soon  wore  out  his  shoes  as  well  as  his 
clothes  by  running  in  the  woods,  and  at  length  his  feet  became 
so  hard  that  he  ran  every  where  without  difficulty. 

After  he  had  recovered  his  cheerfulness,  he  diverted  himself 
sometimes  with  cutting  his  name  on  the  trees,  together  with  the 
tirm»  of  his  being  left,  and  continuance  there.  He  was  at  first 
miK  h  pestered  with  rats,  which  had  bred  in  great  numbers,  from 
some  which  had  got  on  shore  from  ships  which  put  in  there  for 
water.  The  rats  gnawed  his  feet  and  clothes  while  he  slept,  so 
that  he  was  obliged  to  cherish  some  cats,  which  had  also  bred 
from  some  that  had  got  ashore  from  different  ships;  these  he  fed 
with  goat's-flesh,  by  which  many  of  them  became  so  tame,  that 
they  would  lie  about  him  in  hundreds,  and  soon  delivered  him  from 
the  rats  He  likewise  tamed  some  kids;  and,  to  divert  himself, 


STORY  OF  ALEXANDER  SELKIRK.  33 

would  frequently  sing  and  dance  with  them  and  his  cats;  so  that 
he  at  length  overcame  all  the  weariness  of  his  solitude,  and  be- 
came quite  easy.  When  his  clothes  were  worn  out  he  made  a 
coat  and  a  cap  of  goat's  skin  sewed  together  with  little  thongs  of 
the  same,  which  he  cut  with  his  knife.  He  had  no  other  needle 
than  a  nail,  and  when  his  knife  was  worn  out  he  made  others  as 
well  as  he  could  of  some  iron  hoops  that  were  left  ashore,  which 
he  beat  straight  and  thin  and  ground  upon  stones.  Having  some 
linen  cloth,  he  cut  out  some  shirts,  which  he  sewed  with  the 
worsted  of  his  old  stockings;  and  he  had  his  last  shirt  on  when  he 
was  found. 

Selkirk  had  been  on  the  island  four  years  and  four  months,  when 
one  day  beholding  a  ship  at  a  distance,  he  kindled  a  fire,  and  the 
next  morning  saw  a  yawl  containing  eight  men  well-armed  ap- 
proach the  shore.  It  proved  to  be  from  the  Duke,  under  the  com- 
mand of  captain  Rogers,  who  had  seen  the  fire  and  supposed  it  to 
be  from  the  crew  of  some  enemy's  ships,  who  had  landed  on  the 
island.  Next  day,  while  still  under  apprehensions  of  an  enemy, 
they  stood  in  for  the  shore,  from  which  blew  such  sudden  and 
frequent  gusts  of  wind,  that  they  were  forced  to  reef  their  top- 
sail, and  stand  by  the  masts,  lest  they  should  go  by  the  board. 
Seeing  no  ships,  they  conjectured  that  some  had  been  there  and 
left  on  seeing  their  approach. 

At  first  going  on  board  the  Duke,  Selkirk  seemed  much  rejoic- 
ed, but  had  so  far  forgot  his  native  language,  for  want  of  use,  that 
he  could  not  speak  plainly  or  connectedly.  A  dram  was  offered 
him  but  he  would  not  taste  it,  having  drank  nothing  but  water  for 
so  long  a  time,  and  it  was  a  good  while  before  he  could  relish  the 
victuals  on  board. 

Selkirk  saw  no  venomous  creature  on  the  island,  nor  any  sort 
of  beast  but  goats,  which  had  originally  been  put  on  shore  by  Juan 
Fernando,  who  settled  here  with  some  families  and  gave  name  to 
the  place.  He  afterwards  left  itr  and  it  was  entirely  deserted 
when  Selkirk  took  up  his  abode  there.* 

*  The  island  of  Juan  Fernandez  is  now  used  by  the  Chilian  'government  as  a  place  for 
the  transportation  of  convicts,  and  a  garrison  is  stationed  there.  About  one  hundred 
of  these  criminals  lately  formed  a  plot,  seized  the  garrison,  took  possession  of  an  Ameri- 
can brig  just  arrived  from  New  York,  and  sailed  for  Copiapo,  in  Chili,  where  they 
Landed.  At  the  last  advices  they  had  not  yet  been  taken. 


34  A    SCENE    OFF    BERMUDA. 


THE  OCEAN 

The  ocean  hath  its  silent  caves, 

Deep,  quiet,  and  alone; 
Though  there  be  fury  in  the  waves, 

Beneath  them  there  is  none. 

The  awful  spirits  of  the  deep. 
Hold  their  communion  there; 

And  there  are  those  for  whom  we  weep, 
The  young,  the  bright,  the  fair. 

Calmly  the  weary  seamen  rest,' 
Beneath  their  own  blue  sea; 

The  ocean  solitudes  are  blessed, 
For  there  is  purity. 

The  eafth  has  guilt,  the  earth  has  care, 

Unquiet  are  its  graves; 
But  peaceful  sleep  is  ever  there, 

Beneath  its  dark  blue  waves. 


A  SCENE  OFF  BERMUDA. 

The  evening  was  closing  in  dark  and  rainy,  with  every  appearance 
of  a  gale  from  the  westward,  and  the  weather  had  become  so  thick 
and  boisterous,  that  the  lieutenant  of  the  watch  had  ordered  the 
lookout  at  the  mast-head  down  on  the  deck.  The  man  on  his  way 
down,  had  gone  into  the  main-top  to  bring  away  some  things  he 
had  left  in  going  aloft,  and  was  in  the  act  of  leaving  it,  when  he 
sung  out,  "  A  sail  on  the  weather-bow!"  "  What  does  she  look 
like?s>  "  Can  't  rightly  say,  sir;  she  is  in  the  middle  of  the  thick 
weather  to  windward."  "  Stay  where  you  are  a  little.  Jenkins, 
jump  forward,  and  see  what  you  can  make  of  her  from  the  fore- 
yard."  Whilst  the  topman  was  obeying  his  instructions,  the  look- 
out again  hailed.  "  She  is  a  ship,  sir,  close-hauled  on  the  same 
tack;  the  weather  clears  and  I  can  see  her  now." 

The  wind  ever  since  noon  had  been  blowing  in  heavy  squalls, 
with  appalling  lulls  between  them.  One  of  these  gusts  had  been 
so  violent  as  to  bury  in  the  sea  the  lee-guns  in  the  waist,  although 
the  brig  had  nothing  set  but  her  close-reefed  main-topsail,  and  reef- 


A    SCENE    OFF    BERMUDA.  35 

ed  foresail.  It  was  now  spending  its  fury,  and  she  was  beginning 
to  roll  heavily,  when,  with  a  suddenness  almost  incredible  to  one 
unacquainted  with  these  latitudes,  the  veil  of  mist  that  had  hung 
to  the  windwarcj  the  whole  day  was  rent  and  drawn  aside,  and  the 
red  and  level  rays  of  the  setting  sun  flashed  at  once,  through  a 
long  arch  of  glowing  clouds,  on  the  black  hull  and  tall  spars  of 
his  Britanic  majesty's  sloop  Torch.  And,  true  enough,  we  were 
not  the  only  spectators  of  this  gloomy  splendor;  for,  right  in  the 
wake  of  the  moonlike  sun,  now  half  sunk  in  the  sea,  at  the  distance 
of  a  mile  or  more,  lay  a  long  warlike-looking  craft,  apparently  a 
frigate  or  heavy  corvette,  rolling  heavily  and  silently  in  the  trough 
of  the  sea,  with  her  masts,  yards,  and  the  scanty  sail  she  had  set, 
in  strong  relief  against  the  glorious  horizon. 

Jenkins  now  hailed  from  the  foreyard,  "  The  strange  sail  is 
bearing  up,  sir."  As  he  spoke,  a  flash  was  seen,  followed,  after 
\\hat  seemed  a  long  interval,  by  the  deadened  report  of  the  gun, 
as  if  it  had  been  an  echo,  and  the  sharp  half-ringing,  half-hissing 
sound  of  the  shot.  It  fell  short,  but  close  to  us,  and  was  evidently 
thrown  from  a  heavy  cannon,  from  the  length  of  the  range.  Mr. 
Splinter,  the  first  lieutenant,  jumped  from  the  gun  he  stood  on, 
"  Quartermaster,  keep  her  away  a  bit,"  and  dived  into  the  cabin 
to  make  his  report. 

Captain  Deadeye  was  a  staid.  stifT-rumped,  wall-eyed,  old  first 
lieutenantish-looking  veteran,  with  his  coat  of  a  regular  Rodney- 
cut,  broad  skirts,  long  waist,  and  standing-up  collar,  over  which 
dangled  either  a  queue,  or  a  marlinspike  with  a  tuft  of  oakum  at 
the  end  of  it,  it  would  have  puzzled  Old  Nick  to  say  which. 
His  lower  spars  were  cased  in  tight  unmentionables,  of  what 
had  once  been  white  kerseymere,  and  long  boots,  the  coal  scuttle 
tops  of  which  served  as  scuppers  to  carry  off  the  drainings 
from  his  coat-flaps  in  bad  weather;  he  was,  in  fact,  the  "  last  of 
the  sea-monsters,"  but  like  all  his  tribe,  as  brave  as  steel;  when 
put  to  it,  as  alert  as  a  cat.  He  had  no  sooner  heard  Splinter's 
report  than  he  sprung  up  the  ladder.  "  My  glass,  Wilson,"  to 
his  steward. 

"  She  is  close  to,  sir;  you  can  see  her  plainly  without  it,"  said 
Mr.  Treenail,  the  second  Lieutenant,  from  the  weather  nettings, 
where  he  was  reconnoitering.  After  a  long  look  through  his  star- 
board blinker,  (his  other  sky-light  had  been  shut  up  ever  since 
Aboukir,)  Deadeye  gave  orders  to  "  clear  away  the  weather-bow 
gun;"  and  as  it  was  now  getting  too  dark  for  flags  to  be  seen 
distinctly,  he  desired  that  three  lanterns  might  be  got  ready  for 
hoisting  vertically  in  the  main  rigging. 

"  All  ready  forward  there?"  "  All  ready,  sir."  "  Then  hoist 
away  the  lights,  and  throw  a  shot  across  her  forefoot — fire!" 
Bang  went  our  carronade,  but  our  friend  to  windward  paid  no 
reoard  to  the  private  signal;  he  had  shaken  a  reef  out  of  his  top- 
sails, arid  was  coming  down  fast  upon  us. 


36  A    SCENE    OFF    BERMUDA. 

The  enemy,  for  such  he  evidently  was,  now  all  at  once  yawed, 
and  indulged  us  with  a  sight  of  his  teeth ;  and  there  he  was, 
fifteen  ports  of  a  side  on  his  main  deck,  with  his  due  quantum  of 
carronades  on  his  quarter  deck  and  forecastle;  whilst  his  short 
lower  masts,  white  canvass,  and  the  tremendous  hoist  in  his  topsail, 
showed  him  to  be  a  heavy  American  frigate;  and  it  was  equally 
certain  that  he  had  cleverly  hooked  us  under  his  lee,  within  com- 
fortable range  of  his  long  twenty-fours.  To  convince  the  most 
unbelieving,  three  jets  of  flame,  amidst  wreaths  of  white  smoke, 
glanced  from  his  main  deck;  but,  in  this  instance,  the  sound  of 
the  cannon  was  followed  by  a  sharp  crackle  and  a  shower  of 
splinters  from  the  foreyard. 

It  was  clear  that  we  had  got  an  ugly  customer;  poor  Jenkins 
now  called  to  Treenail,  who  was  standing  forward  near  the  gun 
which  had  been  fired,  "  Och,  sir,  and  its  badly  wounded  we  are 
here."  The  officer  was  a  Patlander,  as  well  as  the  seaman 
"  Which  of  you,  my  boy;  you  or  the  yard?"  "  Both  of  us,  your 
honor;  but  the  yard  badliest."  "  Come  down,  then,  or  get  into 
the  top,  and  I  will  have  you  looked  after  presently."  The  poor 
fellow  crawled  otf  the  yard  into  the  foretop,  as  he  was  ordered, 
where  he  was  found  after  the  brush,  badly  wounded  by  a  splinter 
in  the  breast. 

Jonathan,  no  doubt,  "  calculated,"  as  well  he  might,  that  this 
taste  of  his  quality  would  be  quite  sufficient  for  a  little  eighteen- 
gun  ship  close  under  his  lee;  but  the  fight  was  not  to  be  so  easi- 
ly taken  out  of  Deadeye,  although  even  to  his  optic  it  was  now 
high  time  to  be  off. 

"All  hands  make  sail,  Mr.  Splinter;  that  chap  is  too  heavy  for 
us.  Mr.  Kelson,"  to  the  carpenter,  "  jump  up  and  see  what  the 
foreyawl  will  carry.  Keep  her  away  my  man,"  to  the  seamen 
at  the  helm;  "  Crack  on,  Mr.  Splinter;  shake  all  the  reefs  out; 
set  the  fore-topsail  and  loose  top  gallant  sails;  stand  by  to  sheet 
home,  and  see  all  clear  to  rig  the  booms  out,  if  the  breeze  lulls." 

In  less  than  a  minute  we  were  bowling  along  before  it;  but  the 
wind  was  breezing  up  again,  and  no  one  could  say  how  long  the 
wounded  foreyard  would  carry  the  weight  and  drag  the  sails. 
To  mend  the  matter,  Jonathan  was  coming  up,  hand  over  hand, 
with  the  freshening  breeze  under  a  press  of  canvass;  it  was  clear 
that  escape  was  next  to  impossible. 

"  Clear  away  the  larboard  guns!"  I  absolutely  jumped  off  the 
deck  with  astonishment;  who  could  have  spoken  it?  It  appeared 
such  downright  madness  to  show  fight  under  the  very  muzzles  of 
the  guns  of  an  enemy,  half  of  whose  broadside  was  sufficient  to 
sink  us.  It  was  the  captain,  however,  and  there  was  nothing 
for  it. 

In  an  instant  was  heard,  through  the  whistling  of  the  breeze,  the 
creaking  and  screaming  of  the  carronade  slides,  the  rattling  of 
the  carriage  of  the  long  twelve  pounder  amidships,  the  thumping 


A    SCENE    OFF    BERMUDA.  37 

and  punching  of  handspikes,  and  the  dancing  and  jumping  of  Jack 
himself,  as  the  guns  were  being  shot  and  run  out.  In  a  few  sec- 
onds all  was  still  again,  but  the  rushing  sound  of  the  vessel  going 
through  the  water  and  of  the  rising  gale  amongst  the  rigging. 
The  men  stood  clustered  at  their  quarters;  their  cutlasses  buck- 
led round  their  waists,  all  without  jackets  and  waistcoats,  and 
many  with  nothing  but  their  trousers  on. 

"  Now,  men,  mind  your  aim;  our  only  chance  is  to  wing  him 
I  will  yaw  the  ship,  and,  as  your  guns  come  to  bear,  slap  it  right 
into  his  bows.  Starboard  your  helm,  my  man,  and  bring  her  to 
the  wind."  As  she  came  round,  blaze  went  our  carronades  and 
long  guns  ia  succession,  with  good  will  and  good  aim,  and  down 
came  his  foretop-sail  on  the  cap,  with  all  the  superincumbent  spars 
and  gear;  the  head  of  the  topmast  had  been  shot  away.  The  men 
instinctively  cheered.  "  That  will  do;  now. knock  off,  my  boys, 
and  let  us  run  for  it.  Keep  her  away  again;  make  all  sail." 

Jonathan  was  for  an  instant  paralysed  by  our  impudence;  but 
just  as  we  were  getting  before  the  wind,  he  yawed,  and  let  drive 
his  whole  broadside;  and  fearfully  did  it  transmogrify  us.  Half 
an  hour  before  we  were  as  gay  a  little  sloop  as  ever  floated,  with 
a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  as  fine  fellows  as  ever  manned 
a  British  man-of-war.  The  iron  shower  sped:  ten  of  the  hun- 
dred and  twenty  never  saw  the  sun  rise  again;  seventeen  more 
were  wounded,  three  mortally;  we  had  eight  shot  between  wind 
and  water,  our  main-top-mast  shot  away  as  clean  as  a  carrot,  and 
our  hull  and  rigging  otherwise  regularly  cut  to  pieces.  Another 
broadside  succeeded;  but,  by  this  time,  we  had  bore  up,  thanks 
to  the  loss  of  our  after  sail,  we  could  do  nothing  else;  and,  what 
was  better  luck  still,  whilst  the  loss  of  our  main-top-mast  paid  the 
brig  off  on  the  one  hand,  the  loss  of  the  head-sail  in  the  frigate 
brought  her  as  quickly  to  the  wind  on  the  other;  thus  most  of  her 
shot  fell  astern  of  us;  and  before  she  could  bear  up  again  in  chase, 
the  squall  struck  her  and  carried  her  main-top-mast  overboard. 

This  g&ve  us  a  siart,  crippled  and  bedevilled  though  we  were; 
and,  as.the  night  fell,  we  contrived  to  lose  sight  of  our  large  friend. 
With  breathless  anxiety  did  we  carry  on  through  that  night,  ex- 
pecting every  lurch  to  send  our  remaining  top-mast  by  the  board; 
but  the  weather  moderated,  and  next  morning  the  sun  shone  on 
our  blood-stained  decks,  at  anchor  off  the  entrance  to  St.  George's 
harbor. — Scottish  Magazine 

4 


S8  CAPTAIN   JOHN    CLIPPERTON 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  CLIPPERTON. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1718,  some  English  merchants 
foreseeing  war  between  England  and  Spain,  resolved  to  fit  oul 
two  ships  for  the  South  Seas.  Two  ships  were  accordingly  pro- 
vided, one  called  the  Success,  the  other  the  Speedwell.  The 
command  of  the  former  was  given  to  captain  Clipperton;  and 
captain  Shelvock  was  appointed  to  command  the  latter.  They 
sailed  from  Plymouth  on  the  13th  of  February,  1719,  with  a  fair 
wind;  but  the  whole  stock  of  wine,  brandy  and  other  liquors,  for 
the  use  of  both  ships,  was  still  on  board  the  Speedwell.  On  the 
15th,  had  squally  weather  with  rain;  in  the  evening,  unbent  the 
best  and  small  bowefs  in  the  Success,  stowed  their  anchors,  and 
found  themselves  often  obliged  to  shorten  sail  for  the  Speedwell. 
Captain  Shelvock  came  this  day  under  the  lee  of  the  Success, 
and  complained  to  Clipperton  of  the  crankness  of  his  ship,  which 
proceeded  from  having  too  much  weight  aloft;  and,  therefore,  de- 
sired him  to  send  for  his  wine  and  brandy,  which  would  give  him 
an  opportunity  of  striking  down  some  of  his  guns  into  the  hold. 
This  was  never  done. 

About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  on  the  19th,  there  arose  a  fresh 
breeze,  so  as  to  oblige  both  ships  to  take  in  their  topsails.  The 
gale  increasing,  the  Success  made  a  signal  for  the  Speedwell  to 
bring  to,  and  by  seven  o'clock  both  ships  were  under  bare  poles, 
nor  able  to  bear  a  rag  of  canvass  during  the  night.  On  the  20th, 
the  storm  abated,  when  Clipperton  made  sail,  steering  S.  and  by 
E.,  whereas  Shelvock  stood  away  to  the  N.  W.,  so  that  from  this 
day  they  never  saw  each  other  till  they  met  by  accident  in  the 
South  Seas. 

The  Canaries  being  the  first  place  appointed  for  a  rendezvous, 
Clipperton  sailed  thither  with  such  expedition  as  to  arrive  on  the 
5th  of  March.  After  waiting  ten  days  he  determined  to  continue 
his  voyage,  lest  he  should  miss  his  consort  at  the  next  plftce  of 
rendezvous,  which  was  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands.  On  the  21st, 
they  saw  St.  Vincent,  and  next  morning  anchored  in  the  bay. 
They  remained  here  ten  days,  but  not  meeting  with  their  consort, 
proceeded  on  their  "oyage. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  found  themselves  off  the  north  point  of  the 
entrance  of  the  straits  of  Magellan,  and  the  next  day  entered  the 
straits.  They  arrived  in  the  South  Seas  on  the  18th  of  August, 
and  on  the  7th  of  September  cast  anchor  off  the  island  of  Juan 
Fernandez.  They  left  this  island  on  the  8th  of  October,  leaving 
behind  two  deserters  whom  they  had  not  been  able  to  find.  After 
taking  a  number  of  valuable  prizes,  the  Success  bore  away  for 
the  Gallapagos,  in  order  k>  refresh;  and  anchored  in  York  Road 
on  the  9th  of  January,  1720.  On  the  llth  of  August  anchored 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    CLIPPERTON.  39 

with  a  prize  they  had  taken,  at  the  island  of  Lobos  de  la  Mar. 
While  here  a  conspiracy  among  the  crew  was  discovered  and 
punished. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  sailed  for  the  Bay  of  Conception; 
and  in  the  passage  took  a  ship,  laden  with  tobacco,  sugar  and 
cloth.  They  made  the  Bay  on  the  6th  in  the  afternoon,  where 
they  saw  three  men-of-war  lying,  with  their  topsails  loose,  who 
no  sooner  discovered  them  than  they  cut  their  cables,  and  stood 
in  chase.  At  this  time  captain  Clipperton  had  one  prize  with 
him,  which,  as  well  as  the  Success,  hauled  close  upon  a  wind;  on 
which  the  best  sailer  among  the  Spanish  men-of-war,  gave  chase 
to  the  prize,  which  she  soon  came  up  with  and  took.  The  other 
ships  crowded  all  the  sail  they  could  for  sometime,  till  the  largest, 
having  her  mizen-top-mast  carried  away,  fired  a  gun,  tacked, 
and  stood  in  for  the  shore ;  whidi  gave  the  Success  an  opportunity 
of  making  her  escape.  In  the  Spanish  prize,  Clipperton  lost 
his  third  lieutenant  and  twelve  of  his  men. 

They  continued  cruising  to  the  northward,  and  on  the  4th  of 
December  found  themselves  very  near  the  Gallapagos.  On  the 
17th  saw  the  island  of  Cocos,  and  most  of  the  crew  went  on  shore. 
On  the  19th  of  January,  1721,  sailed  from  this  place,  and  on  the 
25th  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Mexico,  where,  discovering  a  sail, 
they  sent  their  pinnace  to  give  chase,  to  whom  he  struck.  On 
the  return  of  the  pinnace  they  had  the  surprising  account,  that 
this  was  a  Spanish  ship,  called  the  Jesu  Maria,  now  commanded 
by  captain  Shelvock,  who  had  lost  his  ship  and  most  of  his  men, 
and  taken  this  prize.  These  ships  again  parted,  and  on  the  31th 
of  May,  Clipperton  anchored  in  the  road  of  Guam.  On  the  5th 
of  July  entered  the  port  of  Amoy,  where  the  crew  demanded 
that  the  prize-money  should  be  shared.  Clipperton  not  comply- 
ing, they  applied  to  the  chief  mandarin  of  the  place,  requesting 
that  he  would  do  them  justice  against  the  captain.  Clipperton 
was  therefore  summoned  before  him;  and  on  the  mandarin's  de- 
manding a  reason  why  he  refused  to  comply  with  the  desires  of  the 
crew,  jjue  -produced  the  articles,  by  which  it  appeared  that  the 
prize-money  was  not  to  be  shared  till  their  return  to  London.  The 
mandarm  decided  that  the  shares  should  be  settled,  and  this  dis- 
tribution was  accordingly  made  on  the  16th  of  September;  7,000/. 
sterling  being  set  aside  as  belonging  to  the  owners.  This  sum 
was  immediately  put  on  board  a  Portuguese  East  India  man, 
which  ship  was  afterwards  burnt  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
money  lost. 

Clipperton  afterwards  took  passage  for  England  in  a  Dutch 
ship,  and  arrived  there  a  bankrupt  in  health  and  fortune,  after  a 
long  and  disastrous  voyage. 


40  FEROCITY  OF  THE  POLAR  BEAR. 


FEROCITY  OF  THE  POLAR  BEAR. 

The  annals  of  the  north  are  filled  with  accounts  of  the  most 
perilous  and  fatal  conflicts  with  the  Polar  Bear.  The  first  and  one 
of  the  most  tragical,  was  sustained  by  Bareutz  and  Heemskerke, 
in  1596,  during  their  voyage  for  the  discovery  of  the  north-east 
passage.  Having  anchored  at  an  island  near  the  strait  of  Way- 
gatz,  two  of  the  sailors  landed  and  were  walking  on  shore,  when 
one  of  them  felt  himself  closely  hugged  from  behind.  Thinking 
this  a  frolic  of  one  of  his  companions,  he  called  out  in  a  corres- 
ponding tone,  "Who's  there?  pray  stand  off."  His  comrade 
looked',  and  screamed  out,  "A  bear!  A  bear!"  then  running  to 
the  ship,  alarmed  the  crew  with  loud  cries.  The  sailors  ran  to 
the  spot  armed  with  spikes  and  muskets.  On  their  approach  the 
bear  very  cooly  quitted  the  mangled  corpse,  sprang  upon  another 
sailor,  carried  him  off,  and  plunging  his  teeth  into  his  j>ody,  began 
drinking  his  blood  at  long  draughts.  Hereupon  the  whole  of 
that  stout  crew,  struck  with  terror,  turned  their  backs,  and  fled 
precipitately  to  the  ship.  On  arriving  there  they  began  to  look 
at  each  other,  unable  to  feel  much  satisfaction  with  their  own 
prowess.  Three  then  stood  forth,  and  undertook  to  avenge  the 
fate  of  their  countrymen,  and  to  secure  for  them  the  rights  of 
burial.  They  advanced,  and  fired  at  first  from  so  respectful  a 
distance  that  they  all  missed.  The  purser  then  courageously  pro- 
ceeded in  front  of  his  companions,  and  taking  closer  aim,  pierced 
the  monster's  skull  immediately  below  the  eye.  The  bear,  how- 
ever, merely  lifted  up  his  head,  and  advanced  upon  them,  holding 
still  in  his  mouth  the  victim  whom  he  was  devouring;  but  seeing  him 
soon  stagger,  the  three  rushed  on  with  sabre  and  bayonet,  and 
soon  despatched  him.  They  collected  and  bestowed  decent  se- 
pulture on  the  mangled  limbs  of  their  comrades,  while  the  skin  of 
the  animal,  thirteen  feet  long,  became  the  prize  of  the  sailor  who 
had  fired  the  successful  shot. 

The  history  of  the  whale-fishers  records  a  number  of  remarkable 
escapes  from  the  bear.  A  Dutch  captain,  Jonge  Kees,  in  1668, 
undertook  with  two  canoes  to  .attack  one,  and  with  a  lance  gave 
him  so  dreadful  a  wound  in  the  belly,  that  his  immediate  death 
seemed  inevitable.  Anxious,  therefore,  not  to  injure  the  skin, 
Kees  merely  followed  the  animal  close,  till  he  should  drop  down 
dead.  The  bear,  however,  having  climbed  a  little  rock,  made  a 
spring  from  the  distance  of  twenty-four  feet  upon  the  captain,  who, 
taken  completely  by  surprise,  lost  hold  of  the  lance,  and  fell  be- 
neath the  assailant,  who,  placing  both  paws  on  his  breast,  opened 
two  rows  of  tremendous  teeth*  and  paused  for  a  moment,  as  if  to 
show  him  all  the  horrors  of  his  situation.  At  this  critical  instant,  a 
sailor  rushed  forward,  and  with  only  a  scoop,  succeeded  in  alarming 


FEROCITY  OF  THE  POLAR  BEAR.  41 

the  monster,  who  made  off,  leaving  the  captain  without  the  slight- 
est injury. 

In  1788,  Captain  Cook  of  the  Archangel,  when  near  the  coast 
of  Spitzbergen,  found  himself  suddenly  between  the  paws  of  a 
bear.  He  instantly  called  on  the  surgeon,  who  accompanied  him, 
to  tire,  which  the  latter  did  with  such  admirable  promptitude  and 
precision,  that  he  shot  the  beast  through  the  head,  and  delivered 
the  captain.  Mr.  Hawkins  of  Everthorpe,  in  July  1818,  having 
pursued  and  twice  struck  a  large  bear,  had  raised  his  lance  for  a 
third  blow,  when  the  animal  sprang  forward,  seized  him  by  the 
thigh,  and  threw  him  over  its  head  into  the  water.  Fortunately, 
it  used  this  advantage  only  to  effect  its  own  escape. — Captain 
Scoresby  mentions  a  boat's  crew  which  attacked  a  bear  in  the 
Spitzbergen  sea;  but  the  animal  having  succeeded  in  climbing 
the  sides  of  the  boat,  all  the  sailors  threw  themselves  for  safety, 
into  the  water,  where  they  hung  by  the  gunwale.  The  victor 
entered  triumphantly,  and  took  possession  of  the  barge,  where  it 
sat  quietly  till  it  was  shot  by  another  party.  The  same  writer 
mentions  the  ingenious  contrivance  of  a  sailor,  who  being  pursued 
bvone  of  these  creatures,  threw  down  successively  his  hat,  jacket, 
handkerchief,  and  every  other  article  in  his  possesion,  when  the 
brute  pausing  at  each,  gave  the  sailor  always  a  certain  advantage, 
and  enabled  him  finally  to  regain  the  vessel. 

Though  the  voracity  of  the  bear  is  such,  that  he  has  been  known 
to  feed  on  his  own  species,  yet  maternal  tenderness  is  as  con- 
spicuous in  the  female  as  in  any  other  inhabitants  of  the  frozen 
regions.  There  is  no  exertion  which  she  will  not  make  for  the 
supply  of  her  progeny.  A  she  bear,  with  her  two  cubs,  being 
pursued  by  some  sailors  across  a  field  of  ice,  and  finding  that, 
neither  by  example,  nor  by  a  peculiar  voice  and  action,  she  could 
urge  them  to  the  requisite  speed,  applied  her  paws  and  pitched 
them  alternately  forward.  The  little  creatures  themselves  as  she 
came  up,  threw  themselves  before  her  to  receive  the  impulse,  and 
thus  both  she  and  they  effected  their  escape. 

4  * 


42  LE    MAIRE    AND    SCIIOUTEN. 

LE  MAIRE  AND  SCHOUTEN. 

FIRST    VOYAGE    ROUND    CAPE    HORN. 

A  belief  that  to  the  south  of  the  strait  of  Magellan  there  would 
be  found  an  open  sea,  or  some  other  passage  leading  to  the  South 
Sea,  had  many  years  been  gaining  ground,  when  a  company  of 
Dutch  merchants  determined  to  make  the  experiment,  which,  if 
successful,  would  open  to  them,  as  they  believed,  the  trade  to 
India,  by  a  new,  instead  of  an  interdicted  passage,  which  the 
strait  of  Magellan  then  was. 

Jacob  le  Maire  was  appointed  principal  merchant,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  ships;  and  Wilhelm  Schouten,  an  able  seaman,  re- 
ceived the  charge  of  patron  or  master  mariner.  The  vessels 
fitted  out  were  the  Eendracht,  a  ship  of  three  hundred  and  sixty 
tons,  nineteen  guns,  and  sixty  five  men,  and  a  galliot,  named  the 
Home,  of  one  hundred  and  ten  tons,  eight  guns  and  twenty  two 
men.  The  president,  Le  Maire,  and  Patron  Schouten,  sailed  in 
the  former;  the  latter  was  commanded  by  Jan  Schouten,  brother 
to  the  patron,  with  Adrian  Claesz  as  merchant. 

June  the  4th,  1615,  they  quitted  the  Texel,  arid  in  three  days 
anchored  in  the  Downs,  where  an  English  gunner  was  hired.  On 
the  30th  of  August,  dropped  anchor  in  the  road  of  Sierra  Leone, 
where  a  stock  of  twenty  five  thousand  lemons  was  purchased  from 
the  natives,  for  a  few  beads.  On  the  5th  of  October,  were  in 
latitude  four  degrees  seventeen  minutes  N.  when  a  great  noise  was 
heard  on  board  the  Eendracht,  and  immediately  after  the  sea 
around  it  became  red  with  blood.  Afterwards  a  piece  of  the  horn 
of  some  sea  animal  was  found  sticking  in  the  bottom  of  the  ship, 
seven  feet  below  the  water  line,  having  penetrated  through  the 
planking,  and  into  one  of  the  ribs:  about  the  same  length  remained 
without ;  it  was  similar  in  shape  and  size  to  the  end  of  an  ele- 
phant's tooth. 

Having  passed  the  line,  they  struck  soundings  in  seventy-five 
fathoms  depth,  on  the  4th  of  December,  and  two  days  after  saw 
the  American  coast.  On  the  8th,  anchored  in  Port  Desire, 
where  they  took  a  large  supply  of  birds,  &c.  On  the  19th,  the 
Home  caught  fire,  and  was  totally  consumed.  On  the  13th  of 
January,  1616,  the  Eendracht  quitted  Port  Desire,  and  on  the 
20th,  passed  the  latitude  of  the  entrance  of  the  straits  of  Magellan. 
On  the  24th  saw  Terra  del  Fuego  to  the  right,  not  more  than  a 
league  off,  and  on  the  29th  passed  to  the  north  of  some  rocky 
islets:  Terra  del  Fuego  appeared  to  the  W.  N.  W.  and  W.,  all 
hilly  land  covered  with  snow,  with  a  sharp  point  which  they  called 
Cape  Home,  in  honour  of  the  vessel  which  they  had  lost.  On 
the  30th,  having  passed  to  the  south  of  the  Cape,  steered  west 


LE    MAIRE    AND    SCHOUTEN. 


43 


encountering  great  waves  with  a  current  to  the  westward:  and 
afterwards  steered  north.  The  ship  continued  to  advance  north- 
ward, and  on  the  1st  of  March,  made  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez, 
and  caught  two  tons  offish,  but  could  find  no  anchorage.  Steering 
for  the  East  Indies  they  visited  a  number  of  small  islands,  and  on 
the  5th  of  August  came  to  the  Isle  of  Goley,  subject  to  the  King 
of  Tidore.  Sailed  again  next  day;  and,  after  being  much  delayed 
by  calms,  met,  September  the  7th,  with  a  ship  of  their  own  coun- 
try; anchoring  the  same  day  at  the  Island  of  Ternate.  They 
were  kindly  received  by  the  people  in  power:  the  Eendracht  had 


Cape  Hern 

not  lost  one  of  her  crew  in  her  long  cruisings,  and  they  had  dis- 
covered a  new  passage  to  the  South  Sea;  yet  these  merits  did 
not  avail  them,  for  on  the  arrival  of  the  ship  at  Batavia,  she  was 
seized  and  condemned,  on  a  supposed  infringement  of  the  rights 
of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  the  officers  and  crew  being 
put  on  board  other  ships  to  be  conveyed  to  Europe. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  during  the  passage  home,  died  the 
president,  Jacob  Le  Maire,  a  victim  to  the  unworthy  treatment 
he  had  received — a  worthy  man  and  a  skilful  navigator;  and  on  the 
1st  of  July  1617,  his  companions  arrived  in  Holland,  by  the  way 
of  Good  Hope,  having  been  absent  two  years  and  seventeen  days 


•14  THE    FLORIDA. 


THE  FLORIDA. 

Many  of  the  vessels  which  formed  the  Spanish  Armada,  inten- 
ded for  the  conquest  of  England,  perished  on  the  north  and  west 
coasts  of  Scotland.  The  ship  Florida  appeared  to  have  been 
more  fortunate  than  any  of  her  consorts;  she  found  her  way  to  the 
bay  of  Tobermory,  on  the  sound  of  Mull,  one  of  the  finest  harbors 
in  the  world.  Scotland  being  then  a  neutral  country  under 
James  the  Sixth,  of  that  name,  the  Spaniards  considered  them- 
selves perfectly  secure,  and  remained  long  in  that  station,  repair- 
ing the  damages  they  had  sustained,  and  refreshing  the  crew  and 
troops. 

The  Florida  was,  no  doubt,  an  object  of  great  interest  and 
curiosity  in  that  remote  situation,  and  all  the  principal  families  in 
the  neighboring  country  and  islands  were  received  on  board  as 
visiters,  where,  tradition  says,  they  were  hospitably  and  splendidly 
entertained.  Elizabeth,  the  ever  watchful  and  well-informed 
Queen  of  England,  had  intelligence  of  the  Florida  through  her 
ambassador  at  the  Scotch  court,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  this 
ship  was  extremely  valuable:  she  had  on  board  a  large  sum  of 
money  intended  for  the  pay  of  the  army;  she  contained,  besides, 
a  great  quantity  of  costly  stores.  The  law  of  nations  should  have 
protected  the  Florida  from  injury;  but  Elizabeth  resolved  on  her 
destruction;  and  it  was  accompanied  by  one  of  the  most  atrocious 
acts,  perhaps,  ever  recorded  of  any  civilized  government.  The 
English  ambassador  soon  found  an  instrument  suited  to  his  pur- 
pose, and  his  name  was  Smollet.  We  regret  to  state,  that  he  was 
an  ancestor  of  the  celebrated  writer  of  that  name,  who  himself 
alludes  to  this  circumstance  in  one  of  his  novels,  apparently  un- 
conscious of  the  inference  which  followed.  This  agent  of  the 
English  Queen  spoke  the  Gaelic  language,  and  wore  the  High- 
land dress.  He  went  to  Mull  as  a  dealer  in  cattle,  and  easily 
found  his  way  on  board  the  Florida,  where  he  formed  an  intimacy, 
and,  along  with  other  strangers,  had  frequent  opportunities  of 
seeing  every  part  of  the  ship.  He  at  length  found  a  convenient 
time  for  his  diabolical  object,  and  placed  some  combustible  sub- 
stance in  a  situation  where  it  was  likely  to  produce  the  desired 
effect.  He  immediately  got  ashore,  and  made  the  best  of  his  way 
southward. 

He  had  travelled  to  a  distance  of  six  or  eight  miles,  when  he 
heard  the  explosion  of  the  Florida;  and  the  spot  where  he  stood 
is  still  marked  for  the  execration  of  mankind.  The  ship  was 
blown  up,  and  nearly  all  on  board  perished.  Together  with  the 
crew  and  troops,  many  of  the  first  men  in  the  country  were  des- 
troyed by  this  perfidious  and  bloody  act,  which  reflects  eternal 


COMMODORE    ANSOX.  45 

disgrace  on  the  planners,  and  infamy  on  the  perpetrator.  Tradi- 
tion states,  that  the  poop  of  the  ship'was  blown  to  a  great  distance, 
with  six  men,  whose  lives  were  saved. 

Some  Spanish  mares  and  horses  had  been  landed,  to  pasture, 
and  these  remained  in  the  island  of  Mull.  The  breed  of  horses 
in  Mull  lias  ever  since  been  superior,  and  it  still  continues  so, 
probably  from  this  cause.  . 

The  English  ambassador  at  Madrid  having  procured  information 
of  the  precise  amount  of  the  treasure  which  had  been  on  board 
the  Florida,  a  ship  of  war  was  sent  by  the  English  Government 
to  Tobermory  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  with 
divers,  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  the  specie.  The  wreck  was 
soon  found,  and  many  articles  were  raised,  but  no  money  was 
acknowledged.  The  ship,  however,  never  returned  to  England, 
and  it  was  suspected  that  she  had  taken  refuge  in  France,  for 
evident  reasons. 

In  the  year  1787,  the  celebrated  diver,  Spalding,  made  an 
attempt  to  recover  this  treasure,  but  he  failed  entirely  as  might 
have  been  expected,  the  remains  of  the  ship  having  sunk  into  the 
clay,  and  totally  disappeared. 


COMMODORE  ANSON. 

The  expedition  under  Commodore  Anson  was  fitted  out  by  the 
English  government  in  the  year  1740,  to  attack  the  Spanish  set- 
tlements in  America.  The  squadron  consisted  of  six  vessels  of 
war  and  two  victuallers.  These  were  the 

Ships.  Commanders.  Guns.         Men. 

Centurion  George  Anson  60          400 

Gloucester  Richard  Norris  50          300 

Severn  Edward  Legge  50          500 

Pearl  Matt  Mitchell  40*         250 

Wager  Dandy  Kidd  28  160 

Trial  Sloop  John  Murray  8_          100 

On  the    18th  of  September,  seventeen  hundred  and  forty,  the 

squadron  weighed  from  St.  Helens,  and  reached  Maderia  the  25th 

of  October.      Having  sailed  hence,  they  discovered  the  land  of 

Brazil,  on  the  16th  of  December,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  19th 

cast   anchor  at  the   island  of  St   Catharine's.     'Having   repaired 

their  vessels,  they  quitted  this  place  on  the  18th  of  January,  and 

on  the  same  day  of  the  following  month  came  to  anchor  in  the  bay 

of  St.   Julian.     The  squadron  again  stood  to  sea  on  the  28th  of 

February,  when  the  Gloucester  not  being  able  to  purchase  her 

anchor,  was  obliged  to  cut  her  cable,  and  leave  her  best  bower 


46  COMMODORE    ANSO-V. 

behind.  Having  reached  the  southern  extremity  of  the  straits 
Le  Maire,  the  wind  shifted  and  blew  in  violent  squalls,  and  the 
tide  turned  furiously  against  them,  driving  to  the  eastward, 
with  such  rapidity,  that  the  two  sternmost  vessels,  the  Wager, 
and  the  Anna  Pink,  with  the  utmost  difficulty  escaped  being  dash- 
ed in  pieces  on  the  shore  of  Staten  Island. 

For  above  three  months,  they*struggled  with  severe  gales  and 
terrific  waves,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  the  weather,  after  having 
been  a  little  more  moderate,  returned  to  its  former  violence;  the 
sky  looked  dark  and  gloomy,  and  the  wind  began  to  freshen  and 
blow  in  squalls;  and  there  were  all  the  appearances  of  an 
approaching  tempest.  Accordingly,  on  the  3d,  there  came  on  a 
storm,  which  exceeded  in  violence  and  duration  all  they  had 
hitherto  encountered.  On  the  14th,  in  the  morning,  the  weather 
clearing  up  a  little  and  the  moon  shining  out  on  a  sudden,  the  Anna 
Pink  made  a  signal  for  seeing  land  right  a-head;  and  it  being  then 
only  two  miles  distant,  they  were  under  great  apprehensions  of 
running  on  shore;  and  had  not  the  wind  suddenly  shifted,  or  the 
moon  shone  out,  every  ship  must  have  perished.  They  found 
this  laad,  to  their  disappointment,  to  be  Cape  Noir,  though  they 
imagined  they  were  ten  degrees  more  to  the  west.  On  the  even- 
>ng  of  the  24th  of  April,  the  wind  increased  to  a  prodigious  storm, 
and,  about  midnight,  the  weather  became  so  thick  that  the  whole 
squadron  separated,  nor  met  again  till  they  reached  the  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez.  To  add  to  their  misfortunes,  the  scurvy  began 
to  make  such  havoc,  that  on  board  the  Centurion  only,  it  carried 
off  forty-three  men  in  the  month  of  April,  and  twice  that  number 
in  May. 

Onthe22d  of  May  the  Centurion  encountered  the  severest  storm 
it  had  yet  experienced.  Almost  all  the  sails  were  split;  the  rig- 
ging was  destroyed,  and  a  mountainous  wave  breaking  over  them 
on  the  starboard  quarter,  gave  the  vessel  such  a  shock,  that  seve- 
ral of  the  shrouds  were  broke,  and  the  ballast  and  stores  so  strange- 
ly shifted,  that  she  lay  on  her  larboard  side.  The  wind  at  length 
abating  a  little,  they  began  to  exert  themselves  to  stirrup  the 
shrouds,  reeve  new  lanyards,  and  mend  the  sails;  during  which 
they  ran  great  risk  of  being  driven  on  the  island  of  Chiloe.  After 
many  difficulties  they  at  length  reached  the  island  of  Juan  Fer- 
nandez, in  a  most  desponding  condition.  Here  many  of  the  crew 
died  of  weariness  and  disease. 

A  few  days  after  the  Centurion  had  arrived,  the  Trial  sloop 
appeared  in  sight,  and  on  the  21st  of  June  the  Gloucester  was 
discovered  to  leeward.  The  Anna  Pink  arriveJ'about  the  middle 
of  August,  which,  with  the  Trial  and  Gloucester,  mentioned  above, 
were  the  only  vessels  that  ever  joined  the  squadron;  for  the 
Severn  and  Pearl,  having  parted  from  the  commodore  off  Cape 
Horn,  with  difficulty  reached  Brazil,  whence  they  made  the  best 
of  their  way  back  to  Europe;  while  the  Wager  was  wrecked  on  the 


COMMODORE    ANSO.V.  47 

coast.  The  Anna  Pink  being  judged  unfit  for  service,  was 
taken  for  the  use  of  the  squadron,  and  her  men  were  sent  onboard 
the  Gloucester. 

A!»out  eleven  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  September,  they  dis- 
covered a  sail;  when  the  Centurion,  being  in  the  greatest  for- 
wardness, made  after  her  as  fast  as  possible.  Night  coming  on 
they  lost  sight  of  the  chase.  About  three  in  the  morning  of  the 
12th,  a  brisk  gale  springing  up  at  W.  S.  W.  obliged  them  to  lie 
upon  a  N.  W.  tack,  which,  at  break  of  day,  brought  them  within 
sight  of  a  sail,  at  about  five  leagues  distant.  She  appeared  to 
be  a  large  vessel,  and  upon  hoisting  Spanish  colors,  and  bearing 
towards  the  Centurion,  the  commodore  ordered  every  thing  ready 
for  an  engagement;  but  upon  coming  nearer,  she  appeared  to  be 
a  merchantman,  without  a  single  tier  of  guns,  and  had  mistaken 
the  Centurion  for  her  consort.  She  soon  surrendered,  and  was 
found  to  be  a  valuable  prize. 

It  appearing  from  letters  on  board  the  prize,  that  several  other 
merchantmen  were  at  sea,  between  Callao  and  Valparaiso,  the 
commodore  sent  the  Trial  sloop,  to  cruise  off  the  latter  port;  and 
ordered  the  Gloucester  to  cruise  off  the  island  of  Paita,  till  she 
should  be  joined  by  the  Centurion.  The  Centurion  and  her  prize 
weighing  from  the  bay  of  Juan  Fernandez,  on  the  19th  of  Septem- 
ber, took  her  course  to  the  eastward,  proposing  to  join  the  Trial  off 
Valparaiso. 

On  the  24th,  in  the  evening,  they  came  up  with  the  latter,  having 
taken  a  prize  of  six  hundred  tons  burden,  laden  with  a  rich  cargo. 
On  the  27th,  the  captain  of  the  Trial  came  on  board  the  Centurion, 
bringing  with  him  an  instrument,  subscribed  by  himself  and  all 
his  officers,  setting  forth  that  the  vessel  was  so  leaky  and  defec- 
tive, that  it  was  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives  they  staid  on  board; 
upon  which,  the  commodore  having  ordered  the  crew  and  every 
thing  off  value  to  be  put  on  board  the  prize,  the  Trial  was  scut- 
tled and  sunk.  It  was  now  resolved  to  join  the  Gloucester 
off  Paita.  With  this  view  they  stood  to  the  northward,  and,  on 
the  10th  of  November  discovered  a  sail,  which  Lieutenant  Brett 
was  ordered  to  chase,  with  the  Trial's  pinnace  and  barge.  They 
found  her  to  be  a  Spanish  vessel  of  two  hundred  and  seventy 
tons  burden.  From  the  prisoners  they  learned  that,  a  few  days 
before,  a  vessel  had  entered  Paita,  the  master  of  which  told  the 
governor  he  had  been  chased  by  a  very  large  ship,  which  he 
imagined  to  be  one  of  the  English  squadron,  and  that  the  govern- 
or had  immediately  sent  an  express  to  Lima,  to  carry  the  news 
to  the  viceroy,  while  the  royal  officer  residing  at  Paita  had  been 
busily  employed  in  removing  both  the  king's  treasure  and  hi-s  own 
to  Piuza,  a  town  fourteen  leagues  within  land.  It  was  at  once 
conjectured  that  the  ship  which  had  chased  the  vessel  into  Paita 
was  the  Gloucester;  and,  as  they  were  now  discovered,  and  the 
coast  would  soon  be  alarmed,  so  as  to  prevent  cruizing  to  any 


48  COMMODORE    ANSON. 

advantage,  the  commodore  resolved  to  endeavor  to  surprise  the 
place  that  very  night. 

When  the  ships  were  within  five  leagues  of  Paita,  about  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  Lieutenant  Brett,  with  the  boats  under  his  com- 
mand, put.  off,  and  arrived  without  being  discovered,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  bay;  though  he  had  no  sooner  entered  it,  than  some  of  the 
people  on  board  a  vessel  riding  at  anchor  there,  perceived  him, 
and  immediately  getting  into  their  boat,  rowed  towards  the  shore, 
crying  out  'the  English,  the  English  dogs,'  &c.  by  which  the 
town  was  alarmed  and  the  attack  disovered.  The  town  was, 
however,  taken  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  from  the  first 
landing  of  the  boats;  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  two 
wounded. 

They  weighed  anchor  from  the  coast  of  Paita  on  the  16th  of 
November,  the  squadron  being  increased  to  six  sail  by  the  prizes. 
On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  they  discovered  the  Gloucester  with 
a  small  vessel  in  tow,  which  joined  them  about  three  in  the  after- 
noon, when  they  learned  that  captain  Mitchell  had  taken  two 
prizes,  one  of  which  had  a  cargo  consisting  of  wine,  brandy  and 
olives,  and  about  seven  thousand  pounds  in  specie;  and  the  other 
was  a  launch,  the  people  on  board  which,  when  taken,  were  eating 
their  dinner  from  silver  dishes.  Notwithstanding  this  circum- 
stance, the  prisoners  alleged  that  they  were  very  poor:  having 
nothing  on  board,  but  cotton  made  up  in  jars,  which,  being  re- 
moved on  board  the  Gloucester,  were  examined,  when  the  whole 
appeared  to  be  an  extraordinary  piece  of  false  package;  there 
being  concealed  among  the  cotton,  doubloons  and  dollars,  to  the 
amount  of  twelve  thousand  pounds. 

The  cargo  and  crews  of  the  several  vessels  were  afterwards 
divided  between  the  Centurion  and  Gloucester.  Quitting  the 
coast  of  America,  they  stood  for  China,  the  6th  of  May,  174-2. 
The  Gloucester,  which  had  become  decayed,  was  cleared  of  every 
thing  by  the  15th  of  August,  and  then  set  on  fire.  On  tiie  27th 
they  arrived  at  the  island  of  Tinian,  where  they  remained  some 
time.  On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  September,  when  it  was  exces- 
sively dark,  the  wind  blew  from  the  eastward  with  such  fury, 
that  those  on  board  despaired  of  riding  out  the  storm.  At  this 
time  Mr.  Anson,  was  ill  of  the  scurvy,  and  most  of  the  hands 
were  on  shore,  and  all  the  hopes  of  safety  of  those  on  board  seemed 
to  depend  on  immediately  putting  to  sea;  all  communication  be- 
tween the  ship  and  the  island  being  destroyed. 

About  one  o'clock  a  strong  gust,  attended  with  rain  and  light- 
ping,  drove  them  to  sea,  where,  being  unprepared  to  struggle 
with  the  fury  of  the  winds  and  waves,  they  expected  each  moment 
to  be  their  last.  When  at  day-break,  it  was  perceived  by  those 
on  shore  that  the  ship  was  missing,  they  concluded  her  lost,  and 
many  of  them  begged  the  commodore  to  send  the  boat  round  the 
island  to  look  for  the  wreck.  In  the  midst  of  their  gloomy  reflec- 


COMMODORE    ANSON.  49 

tions,  the  commodore  formed  a  plan  for  extricating  them  from 
their  present  situation;  which  \vas  by  hauling  the  Spanish  bark  on 
shore,  sawing  her  asunder,  and  lengthening  her  twelve  feet;  which 
would  enlarge  her  to  near  forty  tons  burden,  and  enable  her  to 
carry  them  all  to  China. 

But  a  discouraging  circumstance  novvoccured,  which  was,  that 
they  had  neither  compass  nor  quadrant  on  the  island.  At  length, 
on  rummaging  a  chest  belonging  to  the  Spanish  bark,  they  found 
a  small  compass,  which  though  not  much  superior  to  those  made 
for  the  amusement  of  school-boys,  was  to  them  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. 

When  this  obstacle  was  removed,  and  all  things  were  ready  for 
sailing,  it  happened  on  the  afternoon  of  the  llth  of  October,  that 
one  of  the  Gloucester's  men  being  upon  a  hill,  saw  the  Centurion 
at  a  distance.  She  was  soon  visible  to  all,  and  the  next  day  cast 
anchor  in  the  road.  On  the  14th,  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  drove 
her  to  sea  a  second  time,  but  in  about  five  days,  they  returned 
again  to  anchor.  On  the  20th  of  October,  they  set  fire  to  the 
bark  and  proa,  hoisted  in  their  boats,  and  got  under  sail,  steering 
away  towards  the  south  end  of  the  island  of  Macao. 

About  midnight,  on  the  5th  of  November,  they  made  the  main- 
land of  China,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  a  Chinese  pilot 
came  on  board,  and  told  them  that  he  would  carry  the  ship  into 
Macao  for  thirty  dollars,  which  being  paid  him  they  proceeded, 
and  on  the  12th  entered  the  harbor  of  Macao. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  the  Centurion  again  stood  out  to  sea.  On 
the  last  day  of  May  they  came  in  sight  of  Cape  Espiritu  Santo, 
where  they  continued  to  cruize  till  the  20th  of  June,  when  about 
sunrise  the  great  Manilla  ship  came  in  sight,  having  the  standard 
of  Spain  flying  at  the  top-gallant-mast  head,  and  to  the  commo- 
dore's surprise,  bore  down  upon  him.  The  engagement  soon 
began,  and  lasted  an  hour  and  a  half,  when  the  galleon  struck  to  the 
Centurion,  after  having  had  sixty-seven  men  killed  and  eighty-four 
wounded.  The  Centurion  had  only  two  men  killed  and  seventeen 
wounded.  The  prize  carried  five  hundred  men  and  thirty-six  guns, 
and  her  cargo  was  worth  400, 0001.  sterling.  It  is  impossible  to 
describe  the  transports  on  board,  when,  after  all  their  reiterated 
disappointments,  they  at  length,  saw  their  wishes  accomplished. 
But  their  joy  was  very  near  being  suddenly  damped  by  a  very 
alarming  accident;  for  no  sooner  had  the  galleon  struck,  than  <  ne 
of  the  lieutenants  coming  to  Mr.  Anson,  whispered  him,  that 
the  Centurion  was  dangerously  on  fire  near  the  powder-room. 
The  commodore  received  this  shocking  intelligence  without  any 
apparent  emotion,  and  taking  care  not  to  alarm  his  people,  gave 
the  necessary  orders  for  extinguishing  the  fire,  which  was  done, 
though  its  first  appearance  threatened  the  ship  with  destruction. 

On  the  14th,  the  Centurion  cast  anchor  off  Bocca  Tigris,  for- 
ming the  mouth  of  that  river ;  and  having  got  under  sail  on  the  1 6th 


50 


FISHING    ON    THE    GRAND    BANK. 


of  October,.  1743,  came  to  ancjior  in  the  straits  of  Sunda  on  the  3n 
of  January,  and  continued  there  till  the  eighth,  taking  in  wood 
and  water,  when  she  weighed  and  stood  for  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  where,  on  the  llth  of  March,  she  came  to  anchor  in  Table 


St.  Helena. 

Bay.  Mr.  Anson  continued  here  till  the  3d  of  April,  1744,  when 
he  put  to  sea,  and  on  the  19th  of  the  month,  was  in  sight  of  St. 
Helena,  but  did  not  touch  at  it. 

On  the  1^2th  of  June  they  got  sight  of  the  Lizard,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  15th,  to  their  great  joy,  came  safe  to  anchor  at 
Spithead.  On  his  arrival  Mr.  Anson  learned,  that  under  cover  of 
a  thick  fog,  lie  had  run  through  a  French  fleet,  which  was  at  that 
time  cruizing  in  the  chops  of  the  channel. 


FISHING  ON  THE  GRAND  BANK. 


On  crossing  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  the  ship  was  hove  to, 
for  the  purpose  of  sounding;  and  the  quarter-master  having  tied  a 
baited  hook  to  the  deep-sea  lead,  a  noble  cod  was  drawn  to  the 
surface,  from  the  depth  of  ninety  fathoms.  Upon  this  hint,  the 
captain,  very  considerately,  agreed  to  lie  by  for  an  hour  or  two ;  and 
some  fifty  lines  being  put  over,  the  decks  were  soon  covered,  fore 


FISHING    ON    THE    GRAND    BXNK.  61 

and  aft,  with  such  a  display  of  fish  as  Billingsgate  has  rarely  wit- 
nessed. 

People  who  know  nothing  of  a  sea  life  fancy  that  fish  is  not  a 
rarity  with  us;  but  there  is  nothing  of  which  we  taste  so  little;  so 
that  the  greatest  treat  by  far,  when  we  come  into  port,  is  a  dish 
of  fresh  soles  or  mackerel;  and  even  the  commonest  fish  that 
swims  is  looked  upon  as  a  treasure.  It  is  only  in  soundings  that 
any  are  to  be  met  with;  for,  in  the  open  and  bottomless  ocean, 
we  meet  nothing  but  whales,  porpoises,  dolphins,  sharks,  bonitas 
and  flying  iish. 

I  never  could  conceive,  or  even  form  a  probable  conjecture, 
how  it  is  that  some  persons  manage  to  catch  fish,  and  others  none. 
It  is  easy  to  understand,  that  in  angling,  a  certain  degree  of  skill, 
or  choice  of  situation",  may  determine  the  probable  amount  of 
success.  But  when  a  line  is  let  down  to  the  depth  of  eighty  or  a 
hundred  fathoms,  or  even  to  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  quite  out  of 
sight,  what  has  skill  to  do  there?  And  yet,  in  a  ship,  on  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland,  or  in  a  boat  on  the  Thrumeap  shoals  in 
Halifax  harbor,  I  have  seen  one  man  hauling  in  cods  o-r  haddocKS 
as  fast  as  he  could  bait  his  hooks;  while  others,  similarly  circum- 
stanced in  all  apparent  respects,  might  fret  and  fidget  for  half  a 
day  without  getting  more  than  a  nibble. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  of  course,  that  intellectual  power  must 
be  in  operation  at  one  end  of  the  line,  otherwise  no  fish  will  come 
to  the  other;  but  the  puzzle  is,  by  what  mysterious  process  can 
human  intelligence  manage  to  find  its  way,  like  electricity,  down 
the  line  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea?  I  have  often  asked  successful 
fishermen  what  they  did  to  make  the  fish  bite;  but  they  could  sel- 
d'.-m  give  any  available  answer.  Sometimes  they  said  it  depended 
on  the  bait.  "Well,  then,"  I  have  answered,  "let  me  take  yours 
and  do  you  take  mine."  But  in  two  minutes  after  we  had  chang- 
ed places,  my  companion  was  pulling  in  his  fish  as  fast  as  before, 
while  not  a  twitch  was  given  to  my  new  line,  though,  just  before, 
the  fish  appeared  to  be  jostling  one  another  for  the  honor  of  my 
friend's  hook,  to  the  total  neglect  of  that  which  had  beei.  mine, 
now  in  high  vogue  amongst  tnem.  , 

There  is  some  trick,  or  sleight  of  hand,  I  suppose,  by  which  a 
certain  kind  of  motion  is  given  to  the  bait,  so  as  to  assimilate  it 
to  that  of  the  worms  which  the  fishes  most  affect  in  their  ordinary 
researches  for  food.  But,  probably,  this  art  is  no  more  to  be 
taught  by  description,  or  to  be  learned  without  the  drudgery  of 
practice,  than  the  dexterity  with  which  an  artist  represents  nature, 
or  a  dancer  performs  pirouettes.  Uninstructed  persons,  therefore, 
who,  like  myself,  lose  patience  because  they  cannot  catch  fish  at 
the  first  cast  of  the  line,  had  better  turn  their  attention  to  some- 
thing else. 

Almost  the  only  one  I  ever  caught  was  during  my  first  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic,  when,  after  my  line  had  been  down  a  whole 


52  BYRON. 

weary  hour,  I  drew  it  up  in  despair.  It  felt  so  light,  that  I  imag- 
ined the  line  must  have  been  accidentally  broken;  but  presently, 
and  greatly  to  my  astonishment,  I  beheld  a  huge  cod  float  to  the 
top,  swollen  to  twice  the  usual  dimensions  by  the  expansion  of 
its  sound,  as  the  air-bag  is  called,  which  lies  along  the  back-bone 
At  the  depth  of  eighty  or  ninety  fathoms,  this  singular  apparatus 
is  compressed  by  the  enormous  addition  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  atmos- 
pheres. But  when  the  air  is  relieved  of  this  weight,  by  approach- 
ing the  surface,  the  strength  of  the  muscles  proves  inadequate  to 
retain  it  in  its  condensed  form;  and  its  consequent  expansion  not 
only  kills  the  fish,  but  often  bursts  it  open  as  completely  as  if  it  had 
been  blown  up  with  gunpowder. 


BYRON. 

IN  the  year  1764,  the  Dolphin  and  Tamar  ships-of-war,  were 
fitted  out  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting  discoveries  in  the  South 
Seas.  Mr.  Byron  was  commander-in-chief,  and  Captain  Mouat 
commanded  under  him. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  the  commodore  hoisted  his  broad-pendant,  and 
they  sailed  in  prosecution  of  the  voyage.  On  the  13th  of  Septem- 
ber they  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  road  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  on  the 
coast  of  Brazil,  when  the  commodore  paid  a  visit  to  the  governor, 
who  received  him  in  state.  They  weighed  anchor  on  the  16th  of 
October,  steering  for  Cape  Blanco,  and  on  the  21st  of  Novem- 
ber, entered  the  harbor  of  Port  Desire,  and  the  commodore  in  his 
boat,  attended  by  two  other  boats,  went  to  sound  it.  He  landed, 
and  they  had  a  sight  of  four  beasts,  near  thirteen  hands  high,  and 
in  shape  like  a  deer,  which  they  took  to  be  granicoes. 

On.  the  fifth  of  December  the  ships  got  under  sail,  and  on  the 
^Oth,  ran  close  in-shore  to  Cape  Virgin  Mary,  and  came  to  an  an- 
chor. The  commodore  observed  a  number  of  men  on  horseback, 
riding  to  and  fro,  opposite  the  ship,  and  waving  something  white 
,/hich  he  took  to  be  an  invitation  to  land  ;  and  as  he  was  anxious  to 
know  what  people  these  were,  he  went  in  one  boat  with  a  party  of 
men  well  armed;  the  first  lieutenant,  with  a  separate  party,  follow- 
ing in  another.  When  they  came  near  the  shore,  the  whole  ap- 
pojin-d  to  amount  to  five  hundred  persons,  drawn  up  on  a  stony  point 
of  land  that  ran  far  into  the  sea.  Byron  now  advanced  alone,  but 
as  ho  approached,  the  Indians  retreated;  he  therefore,  made  signs 
that  one  of  them  should  come  forward,  which  was  complied  with. 
The  person  who  advanced  appeared  to  be  chief,  and  was  very 
near  seven  feet  in  height;  round  one  of  his  eyes  was  a  circle  of 


BYRON.  53 

black  paint,  and  a  white  circle  round  the  other;  the  rest  of  his 
face  was  painted  in  streaks  of  various  colors.  He  had  the  skin 
of  a  beast,  with  the  hair  inwards,  thrown  over  his  shoulders.  The 
commodore  and  the  Indian  having  complimented  each  other,  in 
language  equally  unintelligible  to  either,  they  walked  together 
towards  the  main  body  of  the  Indians,  few  of  whom  were  shorter 
than  the  height  abovementioned,  and  the  women  were  large  in 
proportion. 

On  the  21st  of  December  they  began  sailing  up  the  Straat  of 
Magellan,  with  a  view  to  take  in  a  stock  of  wood  and  water. 
On  the  26th,  came  to  an  anchor  at  Port  Famine.  In  this  place, 
they  found  drift-wood  enough  to  have  supplied  a  thousand  vessels. 
The  quantity  of  fish  that  was  daily  taken  was  equal  to  the  supply 
of  both  the  crews:  and  the  commodore  shot  as  many  geese  and 
ducks  as  furnished  several  tables  besides  his  own.  On  the  4th  of 
January  1765,  they  sailed  in  quest  of  Falkland's  Islands. 

On  the  12th  they  saw  land,  and  on  the  14th  aflat  island,  cover- 
ed with  tufts  of  grass  as  large  as  bushes.  Soon  after  this  they 
entered  another  harbor,  to  which  Byron  gave  the  name  of  Port 
Egmont.  This  harbor  is  represented  to  be  the  finest  in  the  world, 
and  capacious  enough  to  contain  the  whole  navy  of  England,  in 
full  security;  there  is  plenty  of  fresh  water  in  every  part  of  it,  and 
geese,  ducks,  snipes,  and  other  edible  birds,  abound  in  such  num- 
bers, that  the  sailors  were  tired  with  eating  them.  The  commo- 
dore was  once  unexpectedly  attacked  by  a  sea-lion,  and  extricated 
himself  from  the  impending  danger  with  great  difficulty;  they  had 
many  battles  with  this  animal,  the  killing  of  one  of  which  was 
frequently  an  hour's  work  for  six  men;  one  of  them  almost  tore  to 
pieces  the  commodore's  mastiff-dog,  by  a  single  bite.  The  com- 
modore took  possession  of  the  harbor,  and  all  adjacent  islands, 
by  the  name  of  FALKLAND'S  ISLANDS. 

On  Sunday,  January  the  27th,  they  left  Port  Egmont.  IVext 
dav  the  commodore  gave  the  name  of  Berkley's  Sound  to  a  deep 
inlet  between  the  islands.  On  the  6th  of  February  stood  in  for 
Port  Desire,  at  the  mouth  of  which  they  came  to  an  anchor,  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  Florida,  a  store-ship,  which  they 
had  expected  from  England.  On  the  20th,  at  Port  Famine  re- 
ceived orders  to  sail  for  England. 

Having  narrowly  escaped  the  dreadful  effects  of  a  storm  on  the 
3d  of  March,  at  length  the  Dolphin  was  moored  in  a  little  bay  op- 
posite Cape  Quod;  and  the  Tamar,  about  six  miles  to  the  east- 
ward of  it.  On  the  28th  the  Tamar  narrowly  escaped  being  dash- 
ed to  pieces  against  the  rock-*,  by  the  parting  of  the  cable  to  her 
best  bower-anchor.  The  Dolphin,  therefore,  stood  again  into  the 
hav,  a-jd  sent  her  proper  assistance,  after  which  they  both  an- 
chored for  the  night;  a  night  the  most  dreadful  they  had  known. 
The  winds  were  so  violent  as  perfectly  to  tear  up  the  sea,  and 
carry  it  higher  than  the  heads  of  the  masts:  a  dreadful  sea  rolled 

5* 


54  BYRON. 

over  them,  and  broke  against  the  rocks,  with  a  noise  as  loud  as 
thunder.  Happily  they  did  not  part  their  cables,  or  they  must 
have  been  dashed  in  pieces  against  these  rocks. 

The  ships  came  to  anchor  on  the  4th  of  April,  'in  a  bay  which 
had  been  discovered,  proposing  to  take  in  wood  and  water.  While 
they  were  here,  several  of  the  natives  made  a  fire  opposite  the 
ship,  on  which  signals  were  made  for  them  to  come  on  board,  but 
as  they  would  not,  the  commodore  went  on  shore,  and  distributed 
some  trifles  which  gave  great  pleasure.  Four  were  at  length  pre- 
vailed on  to  go  on  board;  and  the  commodore,  with  a  view  to  their 
diversion,  directed  one  of  the  midshipmen  to  play  on  the  violin, 
while  some  of  the  seamen  danced;  the  poor  Indians  were  extrava- 
gantly delighted;  and  one  of  them  to  testify  his  gratitude,  took 
his  canoe,  and  fetching  some  red  paint,  rubbed  it  over  the  face  of 
the  musician;  nor  could  the  commodore,  but  with  the  utmost  dif- 
ficulty, escape  the  like  compliment. 

They  sailed  from  this  bay  on  the  7th,  and  next  day  the  wind 
blew  a  hurricane.  On  the  9th,  passed  some  dangerous  rocks, 
which  in  Narborough's  Voyage  are  called  the  Judges.  This  day 
a  steady  gale  at  south-west  carried  them  at  the  rate  of  nine  miles 
an  hour,  so  that  by  eight  in  the  evening  they  were. twenty  leagues 
from  the  coast.  On  the  26th,  they  sailed  westward,  and  bore 
away  for  the  island  of  Massafuero  and  anchored  at  seven  o'clock 
on  Sunday  morning. 

On  the  30th  of  April  they  sailed,  and  on  the  7th  of  June  discover- 
ed land,  being  then  in  fourteen  degrees  five  minutes  south  latitude, 
and  one  hundred  forty  four  degrees  fifty  eight  minutes  west  longi- 
tude. The  commodore  steered  for  a  small  island,  the  appearance 
of  which  was  pleasing  beyond  expression.  Several  natives  ran 
along  the  beach,  with  long  spears  in  their  hands.  The  sailors 
made  every  possible  sign  of  friendship — but  they  retired  to  the 
woods,  dragging  their  canoes  after  them.  The  commodore  pro- 
ceeded to  the  other  island,  and  brought  to,  at  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  from  the  shore.  The  natives  again  ran  to  the  beach,  armed 
with  clubs  and  spears,  using  threatening  gestures.  The  commo- 
dore fired  a  cannon-shot  over  their  heads,  on  which  they  retreated 
to  the  woods.  This  paradise  in  appearance,  was  named  the 

ISLAND  OF  DISAPPOINTMENT. 

Quitting  these  on  tne  8th  of  June,  they  discovered  an  island  on 
the  day  following,  low,  and  covered  with  various  kinds  of  trees 
among  which  was  the  cocoa-nut,  and  surrounded  with  a  rock  of 
red  coral.  They  now  sailed  to  the  westward,  and  soon  discovered 
another  island,  distant  four  leagues.  The  natives  pursued  them 
in  two  large  double  canoes,  in  each  of  which  were  about  thirty 
armed  men.  At  this  time  the  boats  were  at  a  considerable  way 
to  leeward  of  the  ships,  and  were  chased  by  the  canoes;  on  which 
the  commodore  making  a  signal,  the  boats  turned  towards  the 
Indians,  who  instantly  pulled  down  their  sails,  and  rowed  away 


TJVRON.  55 

with -great  rapidity.  On  the  12th  of  June,  sailed  to  another 
island,  and  as  they  coasted  along  it,  the  natives,  armed  as  those 
of  the  other  islands,  kept  even  with  the  ship  for  some  leagues. 
This  island  is  situated  in  fourteen  degrees  and  forty-one  minutes 
South  Latitude,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  degrees  fifteen 
minutes  west  longitude;  and  both  the  islands  the  commodore  called 
King  George's  Islands.  The  boats  having  returned  on  board,  they 
sailed  westward  the  same  day;  and  the  next  afternoon  descried 
another  island,  towards  which  they  immediately  sailed,  and  found 
that  it  was  well  inhabited,  and  had  a  fine  appearance  of  verdure; 
but  that  a  violent  surf  broke  all  along  the  coast.  It  lies  in  fifteen 
degrees  south,  and  one  hundred  fifty-one  degrees  fifty-three  min- 
utes west,  and  received  the  name  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Island. 
On  the  24th  they  discovered  another  island,  which  was  named 
the  Duke  of  York's  Island.  A  terrible  sea  breaks  round  the 
coast,  but  the  place  itself  had  a  pleasing  appearance.  On  the 
29th  sailed  northward,  with  a  view  to  cross  the  equinoctial  line, 
and  then  sail  for  the  Ladrone  Islands.  On  the  2d  of  July  they 
discovered  a  low  flat  island,  abounding  with  the  cocoa-nut  and 
other  trees,  and  affording  a  most  agreeable  prospect.  A  great 
number  of  the  natives  were  seen  on  the  beach,  many  of  whom, 
in  about  sixty  canoes  or  proas,  sailed,  and  formed  a  circte  round 
the  ships  ;  which  having  surveyed  for  a  considerable  time,  one 
of  the  Indians  jumped  out  of  his  boat,  swam  to  the  ship,  ran  up 
its  side  in  a  moment,  sat  down  on  the  deck,  and  began  laughing 
most  violently:  he  then  ran  about  the  ship,  pilfering  whatever  he 
could  lay  hands  on,  which  was  taken  from  him  as  fast  as  stolen. 
This  man  having  as  many  antic  tricks  as  a  monkey,  was  dressed 
in  a  jacket  and  trowsers,  and  afforded  exquisite  diversion.  He 
devoured  some  biscuit  with  great  eagerness,  and  having  played 
the  buffoon  some  time,  made  prize  of  his  new  dress,  by  jumping 
over  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  swimming  to  his  companions.  These 
Indians  are  of  a  blight  copper,  with  regular  and  cheerful  features, 
and  are  tali  and  well  made.  One  of  them,  who  seemed  to  be  of 
some  rank,  wore  a  string  of  human  teeth  round  his  waist.  Some 
carried  a  long  spear,  the  sides  of  which,  for  the  length  of  three  feet, 
were  stuck  with  the  teeth  of  the  shark,  which  are  as  keen  as  a 
razor.  The  officers  named  this  place  Byron's  island,  in  honor 
of  the  commodore.  It  lies  in  one  degree  eighteen  minutes  south 
latitude,  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  degrees  and  forty-six 
minutes  east  longitude.  They  sailed  hence  on  the  3d  of  July, 
and  on  the  28th  had  sight  of  the  islands  Saypan,  Tinian,  and 
Aiguigan,  which  lie  between  two  and  three  leagues  from  each 
other.  At  noon,  on*the  31st,  anchored  at  the  south-west  end  of 
Tinian.  The  water  is  so  wonderfully  clear  at  this  place,  that, 
though  one  hundred  and  forty  four  feet  deep,  they  could  see  the 
ground.  The  commodore  went  on  shore  where  he  saw  many  huts, 
which  had  been  left  the  preceding  year  by  the  Spaniards.  The 


56  BYRON, 

commodore  remained  at  Tinian  till  the  30th  of  September,  by 
which  time  the  sick  being  tolerably  well  recovered,  he  weighed 
anchor  and  stood  to  the  northward. 

On  the  5th  of  November  they  came  to  an  anchor  off  the  island  of 
Timoan  on  which  Byron  landed  the  day  following.  The  inhab- 
itants, who  are  Malays,  no  sooner  saw  the  boat  approaching  the 
shore,  than  many  of  them  came  to  the  beach,  each  having  a  dag- 
ger by  his  side,  a  spear  in  one  hand,  and  a  long  knife  in  the 
other.  The  boat's  crew,  however,  made  no  hesitation  to  land, 
and  bartered  a  few  handkerchiefs  for  a  goat,  a  kid,  and  a  dozen 
of  fowls. 

INothing  worth  notice  happened  till  the  14th,  when  a  sloop 
being  seen  at  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  an  island,  named  Pulo 
Toupoa,  Byron,  having  anchored  in  the  same  harbor,  and  obser- 
ved that  the  vessel  hoisted  Dutch  colors,  sent  an  officer  on  board, 
who  was  received  with  great  politeness.  The  commodore  sailed 
the  following  day,  and  held  his  course  till  the  19th,  when  he  spoke 
with  an  English  snow,  bound  from  Bencoolen  to  Malacca  and 
Bengal,  in  the  East  India  Company's  service.  At  this  time  their 
biscuit  was  rilled  with  worms,  and  rotten,  and  their  beef  and  pork 
were  unfit  to  eat.  The  master  of  the  snow  being  apprized  of  the 
circumstance,  sent  Byron  two  gallons  of  arrack,  a  turtle,  twelve 
fowls  and  a  sheep.  During  their  run  hence  to  Prince's  Island, 
in  the  Strait  of  Sunda,  they  were  so  abundantly  supplied  with 
turtle,  by  boats  from  the  Java  shore,  that  the  common  sailors  sub- 
sisted wholly  on  that  fish.  They  staid  at  Prince's  island  till  the 
19th,  when  they  sailed  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  On  the  13th 
of  February  they  came  to  anchor,  and  were  treated  with  great 
politeness  by  the  governor. 

They  sailed  on  the  7th  of  March,  and,  on  the  25th,  crossed  the 
equinoctial  line.  About  this  time  an  accident  happening  to  the 
rudder  of  the  Tamar,  and  it  being  impossible  to  make  a  perfect 
repair  of  it  at  sea,  the  captain  was  ordered  to  bear  away  for 
Antigua;  in  consequence  of  which  they  parted  company  on  the 
1st  of  April;  and  the  Dolphin,  without  meeting  with  any  other  ma- 
terial occurrence;  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  Downs,  on  the  9th 
of  May  1766,  after  having  been  rather  above  twenty-two  months 
in  the  circumnavigation  of  the  globe. 


A    TALE    OF    THE    SEA. 


NAUTICAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

One  night  came  on  a  hurricane — 

The  sea  was  mountains  rolling — 
When  Barney  Buntline  turned  his  quid, 

And  cried  to  Billy  Bowline — 
"  There  's  a  sou  -wester  coming  Billy, 

Don't  ye  hear  it  roar  now  ? 
Lord  help  'em,  how  I  pities  them 

Unhappy  folks  on  shore  now. 

Fool-hardy  chaps  as  lives  in  towns, 

What  dangers  they  are  all  in — 
At  night  lie  quaking  in  their  beds, 

For  fear  the  roof  will  fall  in — 
Poor  creatures,  how  they  envies  us, 

And  wishes,  I  've  a  notion, 
For  our  good  luck  in  such  a  storm, 

To  be  upon  the  ocean. 

Now,  as  to  them  that  's  out  all  day 

On  business  from  their  houses, 
And  late  at  night  are  walking  home, 

To  cheer  their  babes  and  spouses, 
While  you  and  I,  upon  the  deck, 

Are  comfortably  lying, 
My  eyes !  what  tiles  and  chimney  tops, 

About  their  heads  are  flying  ! 

You  and  I,  Bill,  have  often  heard, 
How  folks  are  ruined  and  undone, 

By  overturns  in  carriages, 
"By  thieves  and  fires  In  London — 

We've  heard  what  risks  all  landsmen  run, 
From  noblemen  to  tailors, 

Then  Billy,  let 's  bless  Providence 
That  you  and  I  are  sailors." 


A  TALE  OF  THE  SEA. 


It  was  a  bright  moonlight  evening,  and  so  warm  that  our  men 
lay  about  the  deck  and  in  groups  with  hardly  any  covering;  I 
think  I  never  saw  so  perfectly  clear  and  brilliant  a  night.  Some  of 
the  officers  were  reading,  and  with  ease,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
and  the  ocean  as  far  as  the  sight  could  sketch  was  a  glittering 
mirror  without  a  single  ruffle  or  wave:  we  lay  like  a  log  on  the 
water,  with  all  sails  set,  but  not  a  breath  of  air  to  move  them 


58  A    TALE    OF    THE    SEA. 

The  crew  were  collected  in  small  parties  about  the  forecastle  and 
main  deck  listening  to  the  "  long  yarns"  of  some  gray-headed 
seaman,  about  the  "  Flying  Dutchman"  of  the  "  Black  River  of 
Gatand,"  while  now  and  then  some  favorite  sea  song  was  bawled 
forth  from  the  laughing  crowd.  The  officers  were  walking  about 
the  quarter  deck  smoking  and  conversing,  and  occasionally  extend- 
ing their  walk  so  far  as  to  listen  to  the  stories  of  the  forecastle. 
This  was  my  first  voyage  on  the  "  wide,  wide  sea,"  and  as  I  was 
the  youngest  of  the  mids  I  found  particular  favor  with  several  of 
the  oldest  seamen,  with  whom  by-the-by  I  liked  to  associate  better 
than  with  my  brother  middys — I  always  loved  to  listen  to  their  tales 
of  murder  and  battles,  and  would  sit  for  hours  on  the  coils  of  rope, 
and  hear  old  "  Jack  Transom"  our  second  mate,  an  old  man  of 
sixty  years  relate  his  adventures  and  "  hairbreadth  escapes." 
We  had  left  Port  Royal  on  the  south  side  of  Jamaica  the  day  be- 
fore on  our  way  to  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon,  and  were  at  the 
time  of  this  writing  passing  between  the  small  islands  of  Monts- 
JErrat  and  Guadaloupe:  in  the  distance  you  could  see  the  white 
moon  beams  playing  on  the  fort  and  beach,  and  glistening  on  the 
low  roofs  and  white  walls  of  the  little  capital  of  Guadaloupe.  '  I 
was  standing  on  the  capstan  with  a  small  night  glass  in  my  hand, 
looking  at  the  opposite  shore  with  its  long  low  beach  with  here 
and  there  a  small  slave  hut  or  mound  of  loose  stones  piled  up 
as  a  covering  over  the  grave  of  some  drowned  sailor  whose  body 
had  been  washed  on  shore.  I  dropped  my  glass  and  was  getting 
down  from  my  station  when  Jack  Transom  stepped  up  and  asked 
for  a  squint,  I  handed  the  glass  to  him  and  after  looking  through 
it  a  moment  he  handed  it  back  saying,  "  Ay,  ay,  there  it  stands 
with  its  creaking  chains  and  dry  bones  rattling  in  the  still  air  as 
if  a  ten  knot,  breeze  was  ripping  over  it."  "  What 's  that  ?"  said  I, 
eagerly  catching  the  glass  and  pointing  it  where  '  old  starboard' 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  directed  me.  It  was  some  time  be- 
fore I  saw  what  he  meant.  When  I  did,  I  was  at  no  loss  for  his 
abrupt  speech.  A  little  north  of  the  town  on  the  white  beach, 
stood  a  tall  gibbet  with  its  chains,  and  even  as  old  Jack  said,  its 
white  bones,  for  I  plainly  saw  them  even  at  that  distance  glimmer- 
ing in  the  rays  of  the  bright  moon,  and  I  almost  fancied  I  heard 
them  rattling  and  shaking  against  each  other,  although  as  I  said 
before,  there  was  not  a  breath  of  air,  not  enough  to  move  a  feath- 
er; I  shuddered  at  the  sight,  for  I  was  young  and  easily  affected 
by  any  thing  terrible  or  gloomy — we  all  knew  that  '  old  starboard' 
was  on  one  of  his  '  long  yarn  tacks,'  and  in  a  short  time  a  group 
was  formed  around  the  old  fellow,  as  anxious  as  the  crowds  of 
coffee  drinkers  in  the  saloons  of  Constantinople  to  listen  to  the 
wonderful  adventures  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alraschid  or  Sindbad 
the  Sailor.  "  It  's  now  forty  years  ago  or  thereabout,"  began 
'old  starboard,'  stuffing  a  huge  quid  of  the  true  Virginia  into  his  left 
cheek,  "  since  I  first  laid  eyes  on  that  same  death  telling  gallows. 


A    TALE    OF    THE    SEA.  59 

I  was  then  a  mere  fore-mast-man  and  perhaps  rather  green,  see- 
ing as  how  that  was  my  first  tack  this  way,  and  only  the  third 
time  I  had  ever  smelt  salt  water.  It  was  a  dark  stormy  night 
with  a  strong  northwester  blowing  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an 
hour,  and  we  were  beating  across  this  very  channel  under  a 
heavy  press  with  the  hopes  of  clearing  the  shoals  before  morning; 
all  hands  were  on  deck  clearing  off  and  taking  in  some  of  our 
light  canvass,  for  the  gale  kept  on  increasing  and  our  main-mast 
creaked  heavily  with  its  load.  When  the  watch  ahead  bawled 
out,  helm-a-lee!  sail  a  head!  but  before  the  words  were  scarcely 
oat  of  his  mouth  we  were  upon  the  vessel;  we  struck  her  about 
mid  ship,  carrying  away  our  bowsprit  and  dashing  in  the  forecas- 
tle sails  and  knuckle  timbers  as  if  they  had  been  glass;  but  it  fared 
worse  with  the  vessel  we  met;  she  was  small,  being  about  seven, 
feet  in  the 'water,  whereas  we  drew  nearer  fifteen — we  passed 
slick  over  her  as  if  she  had  been  a  mere  boy's  plaything.  You 
may  be  sure  there  was  no  standing  still,  every  thing  was  hauled 
up  and  we  were  before  the  wind  in  less  than  half  a  shake,  the  boats 
were  lowered  although  there  was  such  a  sea  running  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  live  in  a  small  boat — logs  of  wood  and  hen 
coops,  were  thrown  overboard  so  that  if  any  were  alive  they 
might  save  themselves — our  first  mate  was  standing  on  the  quar- 
ter listening,  when  he  declared  that  he  heard  a  shout — we  listened 
and  then  it  came  again  and  again,  but  fainter  every  time — at 
length  our  captain  ordered  a  boat  out,  with  directions  to  put  in  to 
the  shore,  and  come  off  in  the  morning,  as  we  should  lay  too.  That 
night  there  was  not  an  eye  closed  in  the  ship.  We  were  all  waiting 
for  the  morning,  for  many  thought  it  sheer  madness  in  our  cap- 
tain to  send  off  a  boat  in  such  a  sea,  and  so  dark  a  night,  and 
prophesied  that  she  would  be  swamped  in  less  than  ten  minutes. 
Though  no  one  said  so  to  the  captain,  for  he  was  in  one  of  his 
gloomy  moods,  and  walked  the  deck  nearly  the  whole  night  with- 
out opening  his  mouth.  We  stood  off  and  on  till  morning,  and  by 
this  time  the  wind  had  lulled  considerably,  and  we  had  a  moder- 
ate breeze — as  soon  as  it  was  light  we  bore  down  to  the  little  bay 
you  see  off  yonder  to  the  nor'-east,  and  having  anchored,  sent  off 
a  boat  to  the  shore;  I  was  in  her,  and  I  shall  never  forget  my  joy 
when  I  first  saw  our  men  standing  on  the  beach  and  hallooing  to 
us — we  were  soon  among  them  and  asking  questions  enough  to  sink 
a  lighter.  After  leaving  the  ship  they  steered  as  near  as  they  could 
tell,  to  where  the  cries  came  from;  after  running  about  ten  minutes, 
they  could  hear  them  plainer,  and  at  last  got  so  near  as  to  speak  to 
the  person — it  was  a  man  who  was  clinging  to  a  large  board,  and 
was  nearly  exhausted — after  a  time  they  got  him  in,  and  finally- 
reached  the  shore — the  poor  fellow  was  nearly  gone,  and  could  not 
speak  a  word,  so  they  took  him  to  a  house,  and  after  awhile  by 
rolling  and  warming  him.  brought  him  to — it  so  happened  that  the 
house  belonged  to  the  governor  or  whatever  they  call  him — and  as 


WALLIS. 


soon  as  he  clapt  his  eyes  on  the  man  he  knew  him,  and  had  him 
taken  to  prison — and  it  turned  out  that  after  all  our  troubte  we 
had  only  saved  the  poor  wretch  from  being  drowned  that  he  might 
be  hung — for  as  it  was  proved  by  many  who  knew  him,  having 
seen  the  fellow  before,  and  by  pieces  of  the  wreck  which  floated 
ashore,  that  he  was  nothing  better  than  a  real  pirate,  (whose  mur- 
ders were  so  numerous  they  could 'rit  be  counted)  he  had  been  taken 
twice  before,  but  had  escaped  each  time — the  governor,  to  be  sure 
of  him  now,  ordered  the  execution  to  take  place  that  day: — we  had 
leave  to  stay  on  shore  and  see  it — he  looked  pale  and  half  deiid 
when  they  brought  him  out,  and  for  the  soul  of  me  I  could'nt  help 
pitying  him,  he  stept  so  firm,  and  went  so  willingly  to  meet  his  death 
— he  was  led  out  to  the  gallows  between  two  files  of  soldiers,  our 
parson  talked  to  him  all  the  way,  but  he  paid  no  attention  and  seem- 
ed to  be  thinking  of  something  else.  Mayhap  the  fine  vessel  he  had 
lost,  and  all  that — we  saw  the  poor  fellow  swung  off,  and  then  went 
back  to  our  ship,  but  here  was  no  laughing  or  joking  that  day  nor 
the  next  either — for  we  all  felt  as  if  we  had  some  hand  in  it,  and 
wished  the  poor  devil  had  been  food  for  the  fishes,  rather  than  to 
have  fallen  a  prey  to  land-sharks.  The  body  was  taken  down 
and  then  hung  up  in  chains,  and  on  our  homeward  voyage  we  saw 
them  there  rattling  in  the  sea  breeze  and  bleaching  in  the  sun. 
I  have  passed  here  often,  but  I  have  never  forgotten  to  look  for 
the  gallows  and  the  Pirate's  remains,  and  I  shall  never  forget' that 
night  while  I  live."  All  hands  ahoy!  shouted  the  boatswain,  and 
in  a  moment  I  was  left  alone.  Before  I  went  to  my  birth  I  took 
one  more  look  at  the  dreaded  object,  and  determined  if  ever  I 
found  leisure  to  commit  the  story  to  paper. 


WALLIS. 

In  1766,  Capt.  Wallis  having  been  appointed  to  command  the 
ship  Dolphin,  destined  for  a  voyage  round  the  world,  received  or- 
ders to  take  under  his  command  the  Swallow  sloop,  and  Prince 
Frederick  store-ship.  They  sailed  on  the  22d  of  August,  and, 
on  the  7th  of  September,  came  to  anchor  in  the  road  of  Madeira. 

On  the  12th,  they  sailed  thence,  and  by  the  12th  of  November, 
were  in  thirty  degrees  of  south  latitude,  w.hen  they  found  the 
weather  so  cold  as  to  have  recourse  to  their  thick  jackets.  On  the 
16th  of  December,  being  very  near  Cape  Virgin  Mary,  they  saw 
several  men  riding  on  the  shore.  The  captain  went  ashore,  and 
gave  them  combs,  buttons,  knives,  scissors,  beads,  &c,  -and  pleas- 


WALLIS.  61 

ed  the  women  greatly  by  the  distribution  of  some  ribbands.  The 
tallest  among  these  people  was  six  feet  seven  inches;  but  the 
general  height  was  from  five  feet  ten  to  six  feet.  They  were 
muscular  and  well  made,  but  their  hands  and  feet  very  small,  in 
proportion  to  the  rest  of  their  bodies.  The  captain  took  eight  of 
them  into  the  boats:  when  they  came  into  the  ship,  they  expressed 
no  surprise  at  the  novelties  they  beheld,  till  a  looking-glass  being 
observed,  they  acted  many  antic  gestures  before  it.  The  marines 
being  exercised  before  them,  they  were  terrified  at  the  firing  of  the 
muskets,  and  one  of  them  falling  down,  shut  his  eyes,  and  lay  with- 
out motion,  as  if  to  intimate  that  he  knew  the  destructive  nature 
of  these  weapons. 

On  the  21st,  they  turned  into  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  and  on  the 
26th,  anchored  in  Port  Famine  Bay;  and  the  sick  were  sent  on 
shore.  On  the  28th,  the  empty  water-casks  were  landed.  When 
they  arrived  here,  many  of  the  people  were  very  sick  with  the 
scurvy;  but,  by  the  plentiful  use  of  vegetables,  and  bathing  in  the 
sea,  they  all  recovered  in  a  short  time. 

They  sailed  on  the  18th  and  on  the  3d  of  February,  came  to  an- 
chor in  York  Road.  The  next  day,  Captain  \Vallis,  with  a  party, 
went  on  shore  near  Bachelor's  River.  There  is  a  cataract  near 
this  ri^er,  the  noise  of  which  is  tremendous,  as  it  falls  more  than 
four  hundred  yards,  partly  over  a  very  steep  descent,  'and  partly 
in  a  perpendicular  line.  On  the  1st  of  March  sailed  again,  and  an- 
chored in  a  place  called  Swallow  harbor,  whence  they  sailed  the 
next  morning;  and,  on  the  following  day,  the  Swallow,  being  dri- 
ven among  breakers,  made  signals  of  distress;  but  was  happily 
relieved  by  a  breeze  from  the  shore.  On  the  10th  of  April  the 
two  ships  sailed  in  company;  and,  on  the  llth,  lost  sight  of  each 
other,  and  did  not  meet  again  during  the  whole  voyage. 

This  day  the  Dolphin  cleared  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  in  which 
she  had  labored  with  innumerable  difficulties,  and  escaped  most 
imminent  dangers,  in  a  passage  of  almost  four  months,  viz.  from 
December  the  17th,  1776,  to  the  1 1th  of  April  following.  The 
Spaniards,  it  seems,  built  a  town  here  in  1581,  which  they  named 
Phillipville,  and  left  in  it  a  colony  of  four  hundred  persons.  They 
were  all  starved  to  death  except  twenty-four;  and  the  place  was 
called  Port  Famine,  from  the  melancholy  fate  of  these  unfortu- 
nate men. 

The  long  wished  for  relief  was  now  fast  approaching,  for  on 
Saturday,  the  6th,  the  man  at  the  mast-head  cried,  "Land  in  the 
west-north-west."  As  no  anchorage  was  to  be  found,  the  captain 
steered  for  the  other  island,  giving  the  name  of  Whitsun  Island 
to  this,  because  it  was  discovered  on  the  eve  of  Whitsunday. 
Having  approached  the  second,  the  lieutenant  was  sent  on  shore, 
with  two  boats,  to  take  possession  of  the  island  and  to  call  it 
Queen  Charlotte's  Island.  The  boats  returned  loaded  with  cocoa- 
nuts  and  scurvy-grass,  after  having  found  two  wells  of  excellent 

6 


62  WALL1S. 

water.  Provisions  for  a  week  were  now  allotted  for  an  officer  and 
twenty  men,  who  were  left  on  shore  to  take  in  water;  the  sick  were 
Banded  for  the  benefit  of  the  air;  and  a  number  of  hands  were  ap- 
pointed to  climb  the  cocoa-trees,  and  gather  the  nuts. 

An  adjoining  island,  lying  in  nineteen  degrees  twenty  minutes 
south  latitude,  and  one  hundred  thirty-eight  degrees  thirty  minutes 
west  longitude,  received  the  name  of  Egmont  Island.  On  the 
llth,  they  observed  about  sixteen  persons  on  an  island,  which  was 
called  Gloucester  Island.  This  day  they  likewise  discovered  an- 
other, which  was  called  Cumberland  Island;  and  on  the  day  follow- 
ing, a  third,  which  received  the  name  of  Prince  William  Henry's 
Island.  On  the  17th,  again  discovered  land,  but  could  find  no 
place  in  which  the  ship  might  anchor.  This  was  named  Osnaburgh 
Island,  and  having  soon  discovered  high  land,  they  came  to  anchor 
because  the  weather  was  foggy;  but  it  no  sooner  cleared  away,  than 
they  found  the  ship  encompassed  by  hundreds  of  people.  They 
sailed  along  the  shore,  while  the  canoes  made  towards  the  land. 
On  the  21st,  the  ship  came  to  anchor. 

The  boats  having  been  sent  to  sound  along  the  coast,  were  fol- 
lowed by  large  double  canoes,  three  of  which  ran  at  the  cutter, 
staved  in  her  quarter,  and  otherwise  damaged  her;  the  Indians, 
at  the  same  time,  armed  with  clubs,  endeavoring  to  board  her. 
The  crew  now  fired;  and  wounding  one  man  dangerously,  and 
killing  another,  they  both  fell  into  the  sea.  The  ship  made  sail 
the  following  day,  and  was  piloted  round  a  reef,  into  a  harbor, 
where  she  was  moored.  On  the  24th,  she  sailed  further  up  the 
harbor,  followed  by  many  canoes.  In  the  evening,  a  number  of 
very  large  canoes  advanced,  laden  with  stones;  on  which  the  cap- 
tain ordered  the  strictest  watch  to  be  kept.  Soon  after  a  large 
canoe  advanced,  in  which  was  an  awning,  on  the  top  of  which  sat 
one  of  the  natives,  holding  some  yellow  and  red  feathers  in  his 
hand.  He  delivered  the  feathers;  and,  while  a  present  was  pre- 
paring, he  put  back  from  the  ship,  and  threw  the  branch  of  a  cocoa- 
nut  tree  in  the  air.  This  appeared  the.  signal  for  an  onset,  for  the 
canoes,  approaching  the  ship  threw  vollies  of  stones  into  every 
part  of  her.  On  this  two  guns,  loaded  with  small  shot,  were-  fired, 
and  the  people  on  guard  discharged  their  muskets.  The  number 
of  Indians  now  round  the  ship  was  full  two  thousand ;  and  though 
they  were  at  first  disconcerted,  they  soon  recovered  their  spirits, 
and  renewed  the  attack.  Thousands  were  observed  on  shore, 
embarking  as  fast  as  the  canoes  could  bring  them  off;  orders  were 
therefore  given  for  firing  the  cannon,  some  of  which  were  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  shore.  The  scattered  canoes  soon  got  together 
again,  and  threw  stones  of  two  pounds  weight  from  slings  by  which 
a  number  of  seamen  were  wounded.  At  this  time  several  canoes 
aproached  the  bow  of  the  ship,  in  one  of  which  was  an  Indian,  who 
appeared  to  have  an  authority  over  the  rest;  a  gun  was  therefore 
levelled  at  his  canoe,  the  shot  of  which  split  it  in  two  pieces,  which  - 


WALLIS.  63 

• 

put  an  end  to  the  contest;  the  canoes  rowed  off  with  the  utmost 
speed,  and  the  people  on  shore  ran  and  concealed  themselves  be- 
hind the  hills.  Next  day  a  lieutenant  was  despatched,  with  all 
the  boats  manned  and  armed,  and  having  hoisted  a  pendant  on  a 
staff,  he  took  possession  of  the  place  by  the  name  of  King  George 
the  Third's  Island.  Three  days  after  this,  the  gunner  conducted 
to  the  ship  a  lady  of  a  portly  figure  and  agreeable  face,  whose  age 
seemed  to  be  upwards  of  forty.  Her  whole  behavior  indicated 
the  woman  of  superior  rank.  The  captain  presented  her  with  a 
looking-glass  and  some  toys,  and  gave  her  a  handsome  blue  man- 
tle, which  he  tied  round  her  with  ribbands.  Having  intimated 
that  she  would  be  glad  to  see  the  Captain  on  shore,  on  Sunday, 
the  12th,  he  landed,  and  was  met  by  his  fair  friend,  who  was  at- 
tended by  a  numerous  retinue.  As  they  advanced,  great  numbers 
of  Indians  crowded  to  meet  them.  Many  persons  of  both  sexes 
advanced  to  meet  her,  whom  she  caused  to  kiss  the  captain's  hand, 
while  she  signiiied  that  they  were  related  to  her.  Her  house  was 
above  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  length,  and  about  forty 
in  breadth.  The  captain,  lieutenant,  and  purser,  who  had  been 
ill,  being  seated,  the  lady  helped  four  of  her  female  attendants  to 
pull  off  their  coats,  shoes  and  stockings;  which  being  performed, 
the  girls  smoothed  down  the  skin,  and  rubbed  it  ightiy  with  their 
hands  for  more  than  half  an  hour;  and  the  gentlemen  received 
great  benefit  from  the  operation.  Orders  had  been  given  that 
the  captain  should  be  carried;  but  as  he  chose  to  walk,  she  took 
hold  of  his  arm,  and  when  they  came  near  any  wet  or  dirty  place, 
she  lifted  him  over,  with  as  much  ease  as  a  man  would  a  child.  On 
the  15th,  a  large  party  in  all  the  boats  rowed  round  the  island. 
The  island  was  found  to  be  every  where  very  pleasant,  and  to 
abound  with  various  necessaries  of  life.  On  the  17th,  Captain 
Wall  is  received  another  visit  from  the  lady  whom  he  called  his 
queen.  On  the  21st,  she  repeated  the  visit,  and  presented  him 
with  some  hogs.  The  captain  having  sent  a  party  on  shore  on  the 
25th.  to  examine  the  country  minutely,  caused  a  tent  to  be  erect- 
ed to  observe  an  eclipse  of  the  sun,  and  when  it  was  ended,  took 
his  telescope  to  the  queen's  house  to  show  her  the  use  of  it;  and 
her  surprise  is  not  to  be  expressed,  on  her  beholding  several  objects 
which  she  was  very  familiar  with,  but  which  were  too  distant  to 
be  seen  by  the  naked  eye.  She  made  signs  to  be  informed  if  he 
held  his  resolution  as  to  the  time  of  his  departure,  and  being  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  her  tears  witnessed  the  agitation  of  her 
rnind.  The  captain  presented  her  with  several  articles  of  use  and 
ornament,  which  she  received  in  silent  sorrow.  After  some  time 
a  breeze  springing  up,  the  queen  and  her  attendants  took  their 
final  leave,  with  many  tears. 

The  place  where  the  ship  had  lain  was  called  Port  Royal  Har 
bor,  and  is  situated  in  17  degrees  30  minutes  south  latitude,  and 
150  degrees  west  longitude.     The  Dolphin  sailed  from  Otaheite 


64.  VOYAGE    FROM    HALIFAX    TO    BERMUDA. 

on  the  27th  of  July,  1767,  and  passed  the  Duke  of  York's  Island. 
On  the  28th,  they  discovered  land,  which  was  called  Sir  Charles 
Saunder's  Island.  On  the  30th  again  made  land,  which  received 
the  name  of  Lord  Howe's  Island,  on  which  smoke  was  seen,  hut 
no  inhabitants.  Their  next  discovery  was  some  dangerous  shoals, 
to  which  Captain  Wallis  gave  the  name  of  the  Scilly  Islands. 
They  now  steered  westward  till  the  13th  of  August,  when  they 
saw  two  small  islands,  one  of  which  was  named  Keppel's  Kile, 
and  the  other  Boscawen's  Island.  On  the  IGth  they  again  dis- 
covered land,  to  which  the  officers  gave  the  name  of  Wallis 's 
Island. 

On  the  18th  of  September  they  discovered  the  island  of  Saypan, 
and  soon  afterwards  that  o-f  Tinian,  off  which  they  anchored  on 
the  day  following,  -  Tents  were  erected  for  the  sick,  who  were 
sent  on  shore  with  all  expedition.  By  the  loth  of  October  the 
fruit  and  water  were  carried  on  board,  and  all  the  sick  being  re- 
covered, on  the  next  day  they  left  the  bay,  and  sailed  to  the  west. 

On  the  3d  of  November  they  discovered  three  islands,  which 
were  named  Sandy  Isle,  Small  Key,  and  Long  Island ;  which 
islands  are  in  10  degrees  20  minutes  north  latitude,  and  247  deg- 
rees 30  minutes  west  longitude.  They  flow  altered  their  course 
and,  on  the  13th,  saw  the  island  of  Timoun,  Aros,  and  Pesang 
On  the  16th  they  crossed  the  equinoctial  line,  and  came  again 
into  south  latitude.  The  next  day  they  saw  the  islands  of  Pulo 
Tote,  and  Pulo  Weste,  and  the  seven  islands.  On  the  22d  saw 
the  coast  of  Sumatra;  and  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  road  of  Bata- 
via,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1767.  From  this  place  they  sailed 
on  the  8th  of  December,  without  losing  a  single  man,  and  having 
only  two  on  the  sick  list. 

On  the  24th  of  January  they  encountered  a  dreadful  storm, 
which  tore  the  sails  to  pieces,  broke  a  rudder-chain,  and  carried 
several  of  the  booms  overboard;  yet  during  this  storm  they  ob- 
served a  number  of  birds  and  butterflies.  On  the  30th  they  saw 
land;  and  came  to  anchor  in  Table  Bay,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
on  the  4th  of  February.  Sailed  on  the  25th,  and  on  the  17th  of 
March,  anchored  in  the  bay  of  St.  Helena.  On  the  28th  crossed 
the  equinoctial  line,  and  on  the  24th  of  next  month  saw  the  Cape 
of  Pico.  No  material  incident  happened  from  this  time  to  the 
end  of  the  voyage;  and  on  the  20th  of  May,  1768,  the  Dolphin 
came  to  anchor  in  the  Downs. 


VOYAGE  FROM  HALIFAX  TO  BERMUDA. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  we  sailed  from  Halifax,  with  a  fresh 
north-westerly  wind,  on  a  bitter  cold  day,  so  that  the  harbor  was 
rovered  with  a  vapor  called  "  the  barber,"  a  sort  of  low  fog,  which 


VOYAGE    FROM    HALIFAX    TO    BERMUDA.  65 

clings  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  sweeps  along  with  these 
biting  winter  blasts,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cut  one  to  the  very 
bone. 

As  we  shot  past  one  of  the  lower  wharfs  of  the  town  of  Hali- 
fax, just  before  coming  to  the  narrow  passage  between  George's 
Island  and  the  main  land,  on  the  south  side  of  this  magnificent 
harbor,  a  boat  put  off  with  a  gentleman,  who,  by  some  accident, 
had  missed  his  passage.  They  succeeded  in  getting  alongside 
the  ship;  but,  in  seizing  hold  of  a  rope  which  was  thrown  to  them 
from  the  mainchains,  the  boatmen,  in  their  hurry,  caught  a  turn 
with  it  round  the  afterthwart,  instead  of  making  it  fast  somewhere 
in  the  bow  of  the  boat.  The  inevitable  consequence  of  this  pro- 
ceeding was,  to  raise  the  stern  of  the  boat  out  of  the  water,  and, 
of  course,  to  plunge  her  nose  under  the  surface.  Even  a  lands- 
man will  comprehend  how  this  happened,  when  it  is  mentioned 
that  the  ship  was  running  past  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots.  In  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  whole  party,  officer,  boatmen,  and  all, 
were  seen  floating  about,  grasping  at  the  oars  or  striking  out  for 
the  land,  distant,  fortunately,  only  a  few  yards  from  them;  for  the 
water  thereabouts  is  so  deep,  that  a  ship,  in  sailing  out  or  in,  may 
safely  graze  the  shore. 

As  the  intensity  of  the  cold  was  great,  we  were  quite  astonished 
to  see  the  people  swimming  away  so  easily;  but  we  afterwards 
learned  from  one  of  the  party,  that,  owing  to  the  water  being 
oetween  forty  and  fifty  degrees  warmer  than  the  air,  he  felt,  when 
plunged  into  it,  as  if  he  had  been  soused  into  a  hot  bath.  The 
instant,  however,  he  reached  the  pier,  and  was  lugged  out,  like  a 
ha'lf-drowned  rat,  he  was  literally  enclosed  in  a  firm  case  of  ice 
from  head  to  foot!  This  very  awkward  coat  of  mail  was  not  re- 
moved without  considerable  difficulty;  nor  was  it  till  he  had  been 
laid  for  some  hours  in  a  well-warmed  bed,  between  two  other 
persons,  that  he  could  move  at  all,  and,  for  several  months  after- 
wards, he  was  not  well  enough  to  leave  his  room. 

For  us  to  stop,  at  such  a  time  and  place,  was  impossible;  so 
away  we  shot  like  a  spear — past  Chebucto  Head,  Cape  Sambro, 
and  sundry  other  fierce-looking  black  capes  of  naked  rock.  The 
breeze  rapidly  rose  to  a  hard  gale,  which  split  our  main  topsail 
to  threads,  and  sent  the  fragments  thundering  to  leeward  in  the 
storm,  in  such  grand  style,  that,  to  this  hour,  I  can  almost  fancy 
I  hear  the  noise  in  my  ears.  I  know  few  things  more  impressive 
than  the  deep-toned  sounds  caused  by  the  flapping  of  a  wet  sail, 
in  such  a  fierce  squall  as  this,  when  the  sheets  are  carried  away, 
and  the  unconfined  sail  is  tugging  and  tearing  to  get  clear  of  the 
yard,  which  bends  and  cracks  so  fearfully,  that  even  the  lower 
mast  sometimes  wags  about  like  a  reed.  I  certainly  have  heard 
thunder  far  louder  than  the  sounds  alluded  to;  but  have  seldom 
known  it  more  effective  or  startling  than  those  of  a  sail  going  to 
pieces  in  such  a  tempest  of  wind  and  rain. 

6* 


66  VOYAGE    FROM    HALIFAX    TO    BERMUDA. 

I  was  standing,  where  I  had  no  business  to  be,  on  the  weather 
side  of  the  quarter-deck,  holding  on  stoutly  by  one  of  the  belaying 
pins,  and  wondering  where  this  novel  scene  was  to  end,  but  hav- 
ing an  obscure  idea  that  the  ship  was  going  to  the  bottom.  The 
admiral  was  looking  up  at  the  splitting  sail  as  composedly  as  pos- 
sible, after  desiring  that  the  main-top-men,  whose  exertions  were 
quite  useless,  should.be  called  down,  out  of  the  way  of  the  ropes, 
which  were  cracking  about  their  heads.  Every  now  and  then  I 
could  see  the  weather-wise  glance  of  the  veteran's  eye  directed 
to  windward,  in  hopes  that  matters  would  mend.  But  they  only 
became  worse;  and  at  last,  when  the  fore -mast  seemed  to  be 
really  in  danger,  for  it  was  bending  like  a  cane,  though  the  fore- 
sail had  been  reefed,  he  waited  not  to  run  through  the  usual  round 
of  etiquettes  by  which  an  admiral's  commands  generally  reach 
the  executive  on  board  ship,  but  exclaimed  with  a  voice  so  loud, 
that  it  made  me  start  over  to  the  lee  side  of  the  deck: — 

"  Man  the  fore-clue  garnets!" 

In  the  next  minute  the  sail  rose  gradually  to  the  yard,  and  the 
groaning  old  ship,  by  this  time  sorely  strained  to  her  innermost 
timber,  seemed  to  be  at  once  relieved  from  the  pressure  of  the 
canvass  which  had  borne  her  headlong,  right  into  the  seas,  and 
made  her  tremble  from  stem  to  stern,  almost  as  if  she  were  going 
to  pieces. 

The  next  thing  to  be  done  was  to  get  in  the  jib-boom,  in  order 
to  ease  the  bowsprit.  In  effecting  this  rather  troublesome  opera- 
tion, one  of  the  primest  seamen  we  had  fell  overboard.  He  was 
second  captain  of  the  forecastle,  the  steadiness  of  whose  admirable 
skill  as  a  steersman  had,  one  day,  elicited  the  complimentary  re- 
mark from  the  captain,  that  he  must  surely  have  nailed  the  com- 
pass card  to  the  binnacle.  On  this,  and  other  accounts,  he  was 
so  much  esteemed  in  the  ship,  that  more  than  the  usual  degree  of 
regret  was  felt  for  his  melancholy  fate.  I  saw  the  poor  fellow 
pitch  into  the  water,  and  watched  him  as  he  floated  past,  buoyant 
as  a  cork,  and  breasting  the  waves  most  gallantly,  with  an  im- 
ploring look  towards  us,  which  I  shall  never  forget.  In  less  than 
a  minute  he  was  out  of  sight.  A  boat  could  hardly  have  lived  in 
such  weather,  and  no  further  attempt  was  made,  or  could  have 
been  made,  to  save  him,  than  to  throw  over  ropes,  which  all  fell 
short  of  their  mark.  Although  we  soon  lost  all  traces  of  him,  it 
is  probable  he  may  have  kept  sight  of  us,  as  we  drifted  quickly  to 
leeward  under  our  bare  poles,  long  after  we  had  ceased  to  distin- 
guish his  figure  in  the  yest  of  waves. 

This  gale,  the  first  I  ever  saw,  was  also,  I  can  recollect,  one  of 
the  fiercest.  It  lasted  for  three  days,  totally  dispersed  our  little 
squadron,  well  nigh  foundered  one  of  them,  the  Cambrian,  and 
sent  her  hobbling  into  Bermuda  some  days  after  us,  with  the  loss 
'jf  her  main-mast  and  all  three  top-masts. 

The  rock  of  the  islands  of  Bermuda  is  of  a  very  soft  coarse 


VOYAGE    FROM    HALIFAX    TO    BERMUDA.  67 

freestone,  full  of  pores;  so  soft,  indeed,  that  if  it  be  required  to 
make  an  additional  window  in  a  house,  there  is  nothing  to  be 
done,  we  were  told,  but  to  hire  a  black  fellow,  who,  with  a  saw, 
could  speedily  cut  an  opening  in  any  part  of  the  wall. 

There  is  nothing  more  remarkable  in  this  singular  cluster  of 
islands  than  the  extensive  coral  reefs  which  fend  off  the  sea  on 
the  northern  side,  and  stretch  out  in  a  semi-circular  belt,  at  the 
distance  of  two  or  three  leagues  from  the  land.  On  these  treach- 
erous reefs  we  saw  many  a  poor  vessel  bilged,  at  moments  when, 
from  seeing  the  land  at  such  a  distance,  they  fancied  themselves 
in  perfect  security. 

They  tell  a  story  of  a  boatman  who,  it  was  said,  lived  by  these 
disasters,  once  going  off  to  an  unlucky  vessel,  fairly  caught  among 
the  coral  reefs,  like  a  fly  in  a  cobweb,  not  far  from  the  North 
Kock.  The  wrecker,  as  he  was  called,  having  boarded  the  be- 
wildered ship,  said  to  the  master, 

"  What  will  you  give  me,  now,  to  get  you  out  of  this  place?" 

"  Oh,  any  thing  you  like — name  your  sum." 

"Five  hundred  dollars?" 

"Agreed!  agreed!"  cried  the  other.  Upon  which  this  treach- 
erous pilot  '  kept  his  promise  truly  to  the  ear,  but  broke  it  to  the 
hope,'  by  taking  the  vessel  out  of  an  abominably  bad  place,  only 
to  fix  her  in  one  a  great  deal  more  intricate  and  perilous. 

"Now,"  said  the  wrecker  to  the  perplexed  and  doubly- 
cheated  stranger,  "there  never  was  a  vessel  in  this  scrape,  that 
was  known  to  get  out  again;  and,  indeed,  there  is  but  one  man 
alive  who  knows  the  passage,  or  could,  by  any  possibility,  extri- 
cate you — and  that's  me!" 

"I  suppose,"  drily  remarked  the  captain,  "that  'for  a  con- 
sideration' you  would  be  the  man  to  do  me  that  good  service. 
What  say  you  to  another  five  hundred  dollars  to  put  me  into 
clear  water,  beyond  your  infernal  reefs?" 

This  hard  bargain  was  soon  made;  and  a  winding  passage, 
unseen  before,  being  found,  just  wide  enough,  and  barely  deep 
enough,  for  the  vessel  to  pass  through,  with  only  six  inches  to 
spare  under  her  keel,  in  half  an  hour  she  was  once  more  in  blue 
water,  out  of  soundings,  and  out?  of  danger. 

"  Now,  master  rascallion  of  a  wrecker,"  cried  the  disentangled 
mariner,  "tit  for  tat  is  fair  play  all  the  world  over;  and,  unless 
you  hand  me  back  again  my  thousand  dollars,  I'll  cut  the  tow 
rope  of  your  thievish-looking  boat,  and  then,  instead  of  returning 
evil  for  evil,  as  I  ought  by  rights  to  do,  I'll  be  more  of  a  Christ- 
ian, and  do  you  a  very  great  service,  by  carrying  you  away  from 
one  of  the  most  infamous  places  in  the  world,  to  the  finest  country 
imaginable — I  mean  America.  And  as  you  seem  to  have  a  certain 
touch  of  black  blood  in  your  veins,  I  may  chance  to  get  good  in- 
terest for  my  loan  of  these  thousand  dollars,  by  selling  you  as  a  slave 
in  the  Charleston  negro  market !  What  say  you,  my  gay  Mudian  ?" 


68  DE    BOUGAINVILLE. 


DE  BOUGAINVILLE. 

A  settlement  having  been  commenced  by  the  French  on  Falk- 
land's Islands,  in  the  month  of  February,  1764,  the  Spaniards  de- 
manded them  as  an  appendage  to  the  continent  of  South  America; 
and  France  having  allowed  the  propriety  of  the  demand,  Mons.  de 
Bougainville  was  ordered  to  yield  possession  of  the  islands  to  the 
Spaniards. 

On  the  5th  of  December  he  sailed  from  the  harbor  of  Brest, 
in  the  frigate  La  Boudeuse;  having  on  board  the  Prince  of  Nas- 
sau Seighen,  three  gentlemen  who  went  as  volunteers,  eleven 
officers  in  commission,  and  warrant-officers,  seamen,  soldiers, 
servants  and  boys,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  29th  of  January,  they  had  sight  of  Rio-de-la-Plata, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  came  to  anchor  in  the  Bay  of 
Montevideo,  where  the  two  Spanish  ships,  which  were  to  take 
possession  of  Falkland's  Islands,  had  been  at  anchor  for  some 
weeks.  They  sailed  with  these  ships  on  the  28th  of  February 
1767;  and,  on  the  1st  of  April,  Bougainville,  in  the  name  of  the 
French  king,  surrendered  the  islands  to  Don  Puente,  the  Spanish 
governor,  who  received  them  for  his  most  Catholic  majesty,  with 
the  ceremony  of  hoisting  the  Spanish  colors,  and  the  firing  of 
guns  from  the  ships  and  on  shore. 

Falkland's  Islands  lie  in  about  52  deg.  south  latitude,  and 
60  deg.  west  longitude.  From  the  entrance  of  the  Straits  of 
Magellan,  and  from  the  coast  of  Patagonia,  their  distance  is 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  harbors  are  large, 
and  well  defended  by  small  islands  most  happily  disposed; 
and  even  the  smallest  vessels  may  ride  in  safety  in  the  creeks, 
while  fresh  water  is  easily  to  be  obtained.  After  waiting  at  these 
islands  till  the  2d  of  June,  1767,  in  expectation  of  the  Etoile 
store-ship  from  Europe,  Bougainville  steered  for  Rio-Janeiro,  at 
which  place  he  had  appointed  the  Etoille  to  join  him.  They  had 
fine  weather  from  the  2d  till  the  20th  of  June,  on  which  day  they 
had  sight  of  the  mountains  on  the  main  land  of  Brazil,  and  enter- 
ed Rio-Janeiro  the  day  following.  At  the  same  time  a  canoe  was 
despatched  from  the  captain  of  the  Etoile,  with  information  of 
the  safe  arrival  of  that  vessel,  which  now  lay  in  the  port;  and 
on  the  14th  July,  both  vessels  sailed,  and  on  the  31st  came  to  an- 
chor in  the  Bay  of  Montevideo.  As  it  was  necessary  that  Bougain- 
ville should  remain  in  his  present  station  till  the  equinox  was  pass- 
ed, his  first  care  was  to  build  a  hospital  for  the  sick,  and  to  take 
lodgings  at  Montevideo. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1767,  they  sailed  from  Montevideo, 
with  a  fine  gale  of  wind  at  north.  On  the  16th,  and  the  five  fol- 
lowing days,  the  sea  ran  high,  and  the  wind  was  contrary.  The 
2d  of  December  they  had  sight  of  Cape  Virgins,  with  a  fair  wind 


DE      BOUGAINVILLE.  69 

They  now  saw  a  number  of  albatrosses  and  petrels,  the  last  of 
which  are  said  to  be  a  sign  of  bad  weather,  whenever  they  are 
seen.  They  made  their  best  efforts  to  reach  the  entrance  of  the 
Straits  of  Magellan;  and  Bougainville  was  seven  weeks  and  three 
days  in  passing  through  it,  the  whole  length  of  which,  from  Cape 
Virgin  Mary  to  Cape  Pillar,  he  computes  at  about  three  hund- 
red and  forty  miles. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  land  was  discovered,  and  when  they  had 
coasted  one  of  the  islands  for  about  two  miles,  they  had  sight  of 
three  men,  who  advanced  hastily  towards  the  shore.  They  at 
first  imagined  that  these  were  part  of  the  crew  of  some  European 
ship,  which  had  been  wrecked  on  the  coast,  but  discovered  their 
conjecture"  ill-founded,  for  the  people  retired  to  the  woods,  from 
which,  in  a  short  time,  issued  a  number  of  them,  supposed  to  be 
near  twenty,  with  long  staves  in  their  hands,  which  they  held  up 
with  an  air  of  defiance.  This  done,  they  retreated  to  the  woods. 
These  islanders  were  of  a  copper  complexion  and  very  tall. 

During  the  night  between  the  22d  and  23d  they  had  much  rain 
accompanied  with  violent  thunder,  while  the  wind  blew  almost 
a  tempest.  At  day-break  land  was  discovered,  which  was  called 
Harp  Island,  and  in  the  evening  a  cluster  of  islands,  eleven  of 
which  were  seen,  received  the  name  of  the  Dangerous  Archipel- 
ago. A  steep  mountain,  which  appeared  to  be  encompassed  by 
the  sea,  was  discovered  on  the  2d  of  April,  and  received  the 
name  of  Boudoir,  or  Boudeuse  Peak,  from  Bougainville's  ship. 
Bearing  to  the  northward  of  this  peak  they  had  sight  of  land, 
which  extended  farther  than  the  eye  could  reach. 

As  Bougainville  coasted  the  island,  he  was  charmed  with  the 
appearance  of  a  noble  cascade,  which,  falling  immediately  from 
the  summit  of  a  mountain  into  the  sea,  produced  a  most  elegant 
effect.  On  the  shores  very  near  to  the  fall  of  this  cascade,  was 
a  little  town,  and  the  coast  appeared  to  be  free  from  breakers. 
It  was  the  wish  of  our  adventurers  to  have  cast  their  anchor  with- 
in view  of  such  an  enchanting  prospect;  but,  after  repeated  sound- 
ings, they  found  that  the  bottom  consisted  only  of  rocks,  and  they 
were,  therefore,  under  a  necessity  of  seeking  another  anchoring 
place,  where  the  ships  were  safely  moored. 

They  remained  at  Otaheite,  until  the  16th  of  April,  when  they 
departed,  and  in  the  beginning  of  May  three  islands  were  discov- 
ered. On  the  following  day  another  isla.nd  was  seen  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  ship's  course.  To  the  islands  the  commodore  gave 
the  general  name  of  the  Archipelago  of  the  Navigators.  On  the 
morning  of  the  llth,  another  island  was  discovered,  which  re- 
ceived the  name  of  the  Forlorn  Hope. 

The  ships  now  steered  a  westerly  course,  and  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d  two  islands  were  discovered,  one  of  which  re- 
ceived the  name  Aurora,  from  the  early  hour  on  which  it  was  first 
seen,  and  the  other  that  of  Whitsuntide  Isle,  from  the  day  which 


70  DE    BOUGAINVILLE. 

gave  birth  to  its  being  so  named.  In  the  afternoon,  mountainous 
lands,  at  thirty  miles  distance,  were  seen,  appearing,  as  it  were, 
over  and  beyond  the  Island  of  Aurora.  On  the  23d  it  was  discover- 
ed that  this  was  a  separate  island,  the  appearance  being  lofty,  its 
descent  steep,  and  the  whole  clothed  with  trees.  From  this  time 
to  the  27th,  they  passed  many  islands,  on  one  of  which  they  ob- 
served a  fine  plantation  of  trees,  between  which  there  were  reg- 
ular walks,  resembling  those  of  an  European  garden.  They  now 
quitted  this  great  cluster  of  islands,  which  received  the  general 
name  of  Archipelago  of  the  great  Cyclades,  which,  it  is  conjectur- 
ed, occupies  no  less  than  three  degrees  of  latitude,  and  five  of 
longitude. 

From  the  14th  to  the  18th  of  June,  they  discovered  a  number 
of  islands.  On  July  the  2d  a  cape  was  discovered,  which  was 
called  Cape  1'Averdi,  on  which  were  mountains  of  an  astonishing 
height.  Two  more  islands  were  seen  on  the  5th,  and,  as  the  wood 
and  water  were  expended,  and  disease  reigning  aboard,  the  com- 
modore resolved  to  land  here,  and,  on  the  following  afternoon, 
the  ships  came  to  anchor. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  a  favorable  breeze  enabled  the  ships 
to  get  out  to  sea.  On  the  31st  a  number  of  Indian  boats  attacked 
the  Etoile  with  a  volley  of  stones  and  arrows;  but  a  single  discharge 
of  the  musketry  got  rid  of  these  troublesome  companions.  On  the 
4th  of  August  two  islands  were  seen.  On  the  5th  a  third  island 
was  seen,  and  then  the  northern  point  of  New  Britain,  which  lies 
only  forty  one  minutes  south  of  the  land.  On  the  7th  a  flat,  island 
was  seen,  covered  with  trees,  abounding  with  cocoa-nuts.  Fish- 
ing-boats in  multitudes  surrounding  the  island;  but  the  fishermen 
took  no  notice  of  the  ships.  This  received  the  name  of  the  Island 
of  Anchorets.  From  this  time  till  the  end  of  the  month  innumera- 
ble small  islands  were  observed  every  day. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  31st  our  voyagers  had  sight  of  the 
island  of  Ceram,  which  runs  in  a  parallel  east  and  west,  abounds  in 
lofty  mountains,  and  is  partly  cleared,  and  partly  in  its  original 
state.  At  midnight  a  number  of  fires  attracted  their  attention  to 
the  island  of  Boero,  where  there  is  a  Dutch  factory,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Gulf  of  Cagei,  which  the  French  had  sight  of  at 
day-break.  Their  joy  on  this  occasion  is  not  to  be  expressed,  for 
at  this  time  not  half  of  the  seamen  were  able  to  perform  any 
duty,  and  the  scurvy  had  raged  so  violently,  that  no  man  on  board 
was  perfectly  clear  of  it. 

They  sailed  on  the  7th  September  and  on  the  13th  the  ships  were 
surrounded  with  Indian  boats,  bringing  parroquets,  cockatoos, 
fowls,  eggs,  and  bananas,  which  the  natives  sold  for  Dutch  money, 
or  exchanged  for  knives.  By  day-light  on  the  19th  they  were 
within  about  a  league  of  the  Coast  of  Celibes,  which  in  this  part 
js  described  as  one  of  the  finest  countries  in  the  world.  On  the 
morning  of  the  26th  the  coast  of  Java  appeared  with  the  rising 


HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS.  71 

* 

sun.  Having  come  to  an  anchor  for  the  night,  the  ships  sailed 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th  and  on  the  next  day  came  to 
anchor  in  the  port  of  Batavia. 

The  ships  sailed  thence  on  the  16th  of  October,  1768,  and 
cleared  the  straits  of  Sunda  on  the  19th  in  the  afternoon.  By 
this  time  the  crew  were  all  perfectly  recovered  of  the  scurvy,  but 
a  lew  remained  ill  of  the  bloody  flux.  On  the  20th  the  ships  were 
in  sight  of  the  Isle  of  France,  and,  on  the  8th  of  November,  the 
Boudeuse  anchored  in  the  port  of  that  island;  the  Etoile,  which 
had  been  unavoidably  left  behind,  anchoring  in  the  same  port  on 
the  following  day. 

They  sailed  from  this  the  12th  of  December,  1768,  leaving  the 
Etoile  behind  them  to  undergo  some  necessary  repairs.  Without 
encountering  any  singular  accident  they  had  sight  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  on  the  18th  of  January,  and  came  to  anchor  in  Table 
Bay  on  the  following  morning.  Bougainville  quitted  this  on  the 
17th,  anchored  off  St.  Helena  on  the  4th  of  February,  and  on  the 
25th,  joined  the  Swallow,  commanded  by  Captain  Cartert.  Noth- 
ing material  happened  from  this  lime  till  they  had  sight  of  the  Isle 
of  Ushant.  where  a  violent  squall  of  wind  had  nearly  blasted  the 
hopes  of  the  voyage.  On  the  loth  the  commodore  bore  away  for 
St.  Maloes,  which  he  entered  on  the  following  day,  after  an  ab- 
sence of  two  years  and  four  months  from  his  native  country; 
during  all  which  time  he  had  buried  only  seven  of  his  crew,  a 
circumstance  that  will  be  deemed  truly  astonishing,  when  we  re- 
flect on  the  variety  of  dangers  they  had  encountered  and  the 
amazing  changes  of  climate  they  had  experienced. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BUCCANEERS. 

The  name  Buccaneer,  which  originally  signified  one  who  dried 
or  smoked  flesh  in  the  manner  of  the  Indians,  was  given  to  the 
first  French  settlers  of  St.  Domingo,  who  hunted  wild  boars  and 
cattle,  in  order  to  sell  the  hides  and  flesh  to  their  more  settled 
neighbors.  They  lived  in  huts  built  on  patches  of  cleared  ground, 
just  sufficiently  large  to  admit  of  drying  the  skins.  These  spots 
were  named  Boucans,  and  the  huts,  which  were  commonly  only 
temporary,  Ajoupas,  terms  borrowed  from  the  native  Indians. 
With  the  more  regular  Spanish  settlers  of  the  same  island  they 
were  continually  at  war,  and  therefore  concealment  was,  in  some 
degree,  necessary:  the  motives  of  the  Spaniards  for  this  persecu- 
tion being  jealousy  of  the  presence  of  all  other  Europeans. 

The  tenants  of  the  Boucans,  having  neither  women  nor  children, 
congregated  in  parties,  each  keeping  a  servant,  who,  being  some 


72  HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS. 

adventurer  from  Europe,  was  obliged  to  bind  himself  for  thret 
years  to  an  older  .Buccaneer,  in  order  to  gain  a  footing  in  the 
community;  more  a  companion,  however,  than  a  servant,  the  fruits 
of  their  labors  were  enjoyed  in  common;  and,  in  cases  of  death, 
the  domestic  regularly  succeeded  to  the  property  of  his  master. 
In  process  of  time,  some,  tired  of  this  occupation,  settled  as  plant- 
ers in  the  little  island  of  Tortuga,  situated  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  north  side  of  St.  Domingo,  to  which  they  were,  by  de- 
grees, driven  by  the  repeated  massacres  of  the  Spaniards.  Others 
commenced  free-booters  by  sea,  amply  revenging  upon  that  nation 
the  injuries  sustained  by  their  companions  on  lariU.  Success  con- 
tinually added  to  their  confidence  and  to  their  numbers.  They 
seldom  at  first,  acted  together;  but  in  parties  of  from  fifty  to  two 
hundred  men  each,  embarked  in  small  boats,  ill  adapted  either  to 
war  or  security  from  the  elements,  and  would  attack  the  largest 
vessels,  overpowering  them  by  a  desperate  bravery  which  nothing 
could  withstand.  Thus  they  fought  their  way  to  riches  and  power. 
Every  additional  prize  afforded  increased  means  of  capturing 
others;  till,  at  length,  the  Spaniards,  afraid  of  proceeding  to  sea, 
had  their  intercourse  with  the  mother-country  nearly  annihilated. 

Although  their  vengeance  was  directed  against  this,  their 
wealthiest  and  bitterest  enemy,  other  nations  were  not  exempted 
from  their  depredations.  When  distressed  for  men,  money,  or 
ships,  almost  every  stranger  became  an  enemy.  Thus  far  they 
were  pirates.  The  booty  was  regularly  divided  into  as  many 
shares  as  there  were  men.  None  had  a  preference.  The  leader 
of  an  enterprise,  commonly  elected  only  for  the  occasion,  among 
the  most  distinguished  for  skill  and  courage,  enjoyed  more  hon- 
ors, but  had  no  claim  to  greater  emoluments  than  his  associates, 
except  what  the  general  voice  chose  tO' award  when  an  enterprise 
proved  profitable,  and  had  been  able  conducted. 

No  fixed  laws  guided  their  proceedings.  These  were  made 
upon  the  spur  of  the  occasion.  But  offences  against  the  general 
good,  such  as  peculation  or  treachery,  were  severely  and  summa- 
rily punished,  either  by  death,  or  by  leaving  the  culprit  upon  a  de- 
sert island.  Such  was  the  certainty  of  punishment,  or  the  sense 
of  justice  to  each  other,  that  few  instances  of  this  kind  occurred. 
Their  behavior  verified  the  adage  of — "Honesty  among  thieves;" 
for  though  robbers  by  profession,  none  were  ever  more  equitable 
among  themselves.  Every  share  was  chosen  by  lot.  The  woun- 
ded were  provided  for  by  a  certain  sum,  and  an  allowance  during 
cure.  The  companion,  or  servant  of  a  member  killed,  received 
his  share.  If  he  had  none,  it  was  transmitted  to  his  relations;  or, 
if  these  were  unknown,  given  to  the  poor,  or  to  churches,  to  apo- 
logize for  misdeeds  neither  repented  of  nor  discontinued.  They 
seldom  went  to  sea  except  when  in  want  of  money,  and,  when  gain- 
ed, it  was  as  quickly  spent.  Jamaica  commonly  formed  the  resort 
of  the  English,  and  St.  Domingo  of  the  French,  where  the  fruits 


HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS.  73 

of  their  cruizes  being  soon  dissipated  in  rioting  and  debauchery, 
necessity  drove  them  to  the  same  desperate  undertakings  for  further 
supplies. 

These  associations  continued,  with  but  few  intermissions,  for 
nearly  150  years,  peace  or  war  in  Europe  being  of  no  import  in 
the  eyes  of  their  leaders.  The  principal  of  these  were  Morgan, 
Samms,  Wilner,  Towley,  and  others,  among  the  English;  Mont- 
bar,  L'Olonois,  Grognier,  Picard,  Le  Sage,  and  Grammont, 
among  the  French;  Van  Horn,  a  Dutchman,  and  De  Basco,  a 
Portuguese. 

Morgan,  the  most  renowned  of  the  English  freebooters,  after  a 
variety  of  minor  exploits,  conceived  the  bold  project  of  subduing 
Porto-Bello,  which  he  accomplished  with  great  skill  and  no  loss, 
gaining  a  large  booty  from  its  plunder  and  ransom.  Panama, 
however,  a  large  town,  situated  across  the  isthmus  of  Darien,  on  the 
shore  of  the  South  Seas,  promised  still  more  wealth.  Having  re- 
duced the  island  of  St.  Catharine's  by  a  secret  understanding  with 
the  Spanish  governor,  who  wished  to  have  the  honor,  though 
not  the  danger,  of  resisting  the  adventurers,  he  proceeded  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Chagres,  leading  part  of  the  way  to  his  ulti 
mate  destination.  Here  was  a  fort  situated  upon  a  rock;  against 
which  beat  the  waves  of  the  sea;  and  defended  by  an  officer  and 
a  garrison,  worthy  of  the  trust  committed  to  their  courage.  The 
buccaneers  attacked  it  with  desperation,  and  were  as  vigorously 
-esisted,  but  this  resistance  only  stimulated  the  energy  of  men  ac- 
customed, not  merely  to  expect,  but  almost  to  command  success. 
For  some  time  the  contest  continued  doubtful,  till  a  lucky  shot 
killed  the  commander  of  the  fort,  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  took 
fire,  when  the  besieged,  losing  courage,  surrendered. 

Morgan  leaving  his  vessels  at  anchor  under  a  guard,  proceeded 
in  canoes  up  the  river,  thirty-five  miles,  where,  being  no  longer 
navigable,  he  disembarked,  and  marched  towards  Panama,  about 
thirty  miles  distant.  On  a  plain,  without  the  town,  a  considerable 
army  appeared  drawn  up  to  oppose  his  progress.  This  was  no 
sooner  attacked  than  dispersed.  In  the  city,  in  boats,  and  in  the 
neighboring  forests,  were  found  vast  treasures  concealed  in  caves 
and  cellars,  the  inhabitants  having  had  time  to  retire  themselves, 
but  not  to  carry  off  their  wealth;  added  to  these  were  immense 
quantities  of  valuable  articles  of  commerce,  which,  being  unable 
to  remove,  were,  as  well  as  the  town,  according  to  the  barbarous 
practice  of  that  age,  set  on  fire  by  the  adventurers,  who  regained 
their  ships  with  a  prodigious  booty. 

Among  the  French,  who  distinguished  themselves  as  much  for 
cruelty  as  bravery,  was  Montbar,  a  native  of  Languedoc.  He 
had,  in  early  life,  conceived  a  strong  prejudice  against  the  Span- 
iards, on  account  of  their  cruelties  to  the  Indians;  this  spirit  in- 
creasing with  his  years,  he  embarked  from  Europe  to  join  the 
buccaneers.  In  the  passage  out,  a  Spanish  vessel  being  met  with, 

7 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS. 

was  attacked,  boarded,  and  taken,  Montbar  leacing  the  way  to 
the  decks  of  the  enemy,  along  which  he  carried  wounds  and  death, 
nothing  being  able  to  resist  his  desperate  fury;  and  when  submis- 
sion terminated  the  engagement,  his  only  pleasure  seemed  to  be 
to  contemplate,  not  the  treasures  of  the  vessel,  but  the  number 
of  dead  and  dying  Spaniards,  against  whom  he  had  vowed  a  dead- 
ly and  eternal  hatred.  This  inveterate  enmity  never  subsided. 
His  opponents  suffered  so  much  and  so  frequently  from  it,  during 
the  whole  of  his  life,  that  he  acquired  from  them  the  name  of  the 
/Exterminator. 

Another  of  the  same  nation,  named  L'Olonois,  from  the  situa- 
tion of  bondsman,  had  raised  himself  to  the  command  of  two  boats 
and  twenty-two  men,  with  which  he  was  bold  enough  to  attack, 
and  fortunate  enough  to  capture  a  small  Spanish  frigate  on  the 
coast  of  Cuba.  With  this  vessel  he  succeeded  in  taking  four  ships 
fitted  out  at  Port-au-Prince  to  destroy  him;  but  cruelly  threw  their 
crews  overboard,  excepting  one  man,  sent  back  to  the  governor 
of  the  Havannah,  with  a  message  that  all  Spaniards  who  might 
fall  into  his  hands,  not  excepting  even  his  excellency  himself, 
should  experience  a  similar  fate.  At  Tortuga  he  met  with  Michael 
de  Basco,  already  celebrated  for  having  taken  a  ship  under  the 
guns  of  Porto  Bello,  valued  at  .£220,000,  and  a  variety  of  other 
enterprises  both  daring  and  profitable.  Between  them  a  new  ex- 
pedition was  planned,  supported  by  450  men;  in  the  bay  of 
Venezuela  they  reduced  a  fort,  sinking  the  guns,  and  cruelly  put- 
ting the  garrison  of  250  men  to  death.  Re-embarking,  they 
reached  Maracaybo,  built  on  the  western  shore  of  the  lake  of  that 
name,  a  city  which  had  acquired  wealth  by  its  trade  in  skins, 
cocoa,  and  tobacco.  The  inhabitants,  at  the  first  alarm,  fled  with 
their  principal  effects;  enough,  however,  remained  to  keep  the  buc- 
caneers in  drunkenness  and  debauchery  for  sometime;  in  the 
mean  while  works  were  thrown  up  to  impede  their  progress,  which 
they  reduced  at  the  expense  of  blood  and  labor,  but  without  any 
profit.  Maracaybo  itself  v.  as  ransomed;  Gibraltar,  situated  near 
the  extremity  of  the  lake,  was  burned,  owing  to  the  exasperation 
of  the  adventurers  at  missing  the  expected  plunder;  and,  at  length 
they  retired  laden  with  crosses,  pictures,  and  bells,  more  than 
with  wealth. 

Van  Home,  in  1603,  formed  the  design  of  an  expedition,  which 
promised  a  rich  harvest  to  his  followers.  He  himself  was  at  once 
their  admiration  and  terror,  being  not  orrly  remarkable  for  intre- 
pidity but  for  punishing  tho  smallest  want  of  it  irif  others,  often  go- 
ing round  the  decks  during  the  heat  of  an  engagement,  and  instant- 
ly shooting  those  who,  in  the  smallest  degree,  flinched  from  their 
guns.  In  other  respects  he  was  equitable  and  generous,  sht  ring 
equally  with  his  crew'the  produce  of  their  courage,  though  sail- 
ing in  a  ship  wholly  his  private  property. 

To  aid  in  the  present  scheme,  he  took  Gramont,  Godfrey,  Jon- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS.  75 

que,  and  De  Graff,  all  commanders  of  approved  skill  and  courage, 
with  1L200  men,  the  largest  force  which  had  yet  been  mustered, 
and  in  six  vessels  sailed  for  Vera  Cruz.  Night,  and  ignorance 
of  the  armament,  favoring  their  design,  the  buccaneers  landed 
eight  miles  from  the  town,  entered  it  undiscovered,  and,  before 
day-break,  secured  the  governor,  forts,  barracks,  and  all  the  sol- 
diers capable  of  making  opposition.  The  inhabitants  sought  re- 
fuge in  the  churches,  at  the  doors  of  which  were  placed  barrels  of 
gunpowder,  guarded  by  the  invaders  with  lighted  matches,  in  or- 
der to  destroy  the  whole  in  case  of  insurrection  or  tumult.  The 
work  of  pillage,  in  the  meantime,  proceeded  without  interruption, 
nothing  being  left  which  it  was  possible  or  desirable  to  carry  away. 
A  proposal  wras  likewise  made  to  the  imprisoned  people,  who  had 
not  tasted  food  for  three  days,  to  ransom  their  lives  and  freedom 
for  a  sum  of  ,£430,000.  This,  whether  able  or  not,  they  were 
compelled  to  accede  to,  half  the  money  being  paid  immediately, 
and  the  other  half  promised  in  a  few  days.  Suddenly,  however, 
a  large  armed  force  appeared  before  the  town,  and  a  fleet  of  seven- 
teen ships  from  Europe  before  the  port,  which  though  sufficient 
to  intimidate  a  regular  army,  if  not  to  desert  their  plunder,  had 
no  other  effect  on  the  buccaneers  than  to  induce  them  to  retreat 
quietly  with  1500  slaves,  as  an  indemnification  for  the  remaining 
half  of  the  expected  ransom,  and  to  push  deliberately  through  the 
Spanish  fleet,  which,  instead  of  intercepting,  was  itself  happy  to 
escape  from  such  terrible  assailants. 

For  a  long  series  of  years  these  depredations  continued. 
Scarcely  a  town  escaped,  except  such  as  were  situated  very  far 
in  the  interior;  forts  and  soldiers  were  of  little  use  on  the  coast, 
for  the  former  were  soon  reduced,  and  the  latter,  whenever  they 
attempted  a  fair  contest  in  the  field,  always  conquered.  Towards 
the  decline  of  this  predatory  warfare,  Gramont  embarked  with  a 
considerable  force  for  Campeachy,  and  landing  without  opposition, 
found  800  Spaniards  drawn  up  to  dispute  the  approach  of  the  town, 
who  were  attacked,  beaten,  and  pursued  into  it,  with  the  invaders 
close  behind,  till  stopped  by  the  citadel.  Against  this  all  the  can- 
non they  could  find  was  directed  in  vain.  Fear,  however,  effect- 
ed what  force  could  not.  The  garrison  dreading  the  name  of  the 
buccaneers,  evacuated  the  place  during  the  night,  leaving  only  an 
Englishman  in  it,  (a  gunner,)  who,  with  the  spirit  of  a  soldier, 
disdained  to  desert  that  which  he  had  sworn  to  defend,  and  which, 
it  appeared,  was  capable  of  being  obstinately  defended;  and  so 
highly  did  this  principle  of  honor  and  courage  operate  upon  the 
assailants,  who  were  held  together  solely  by  the  same  feelings, 
that  they  received  him  with  distinction,  and  rewarded  him,  not 
only  with  praises  and  liberty,  but  likewise  with  wealth. 

For  ^two  months  the  conquerors  kept  possession  of  the  city, 
searching  not  only  every  nook  and  corner  in  it  for  plunder,  but 
the  country,  for  thirty  or  forty  miles  round,  discovering  what  had 


76  .  HISTORY    OF    THE    BUCCANEERS. 

been  hidden  in  the  earth  or  in  the  woods,  to  the  great  loss  of  the 
inhabitants,  who  vainly  believed  they  had,  by  this  means,  secured 
part  of  their  property.  The  plunder,  as  soon  as  collected,  was 
deposited  on  ship-board.  The  governor  of  the  province  kept  the 
field  with  nearly  a  thousand  men,  but  dared  not  interrupt  men 
who  seemed  as  desperate,  wherever  booty  was  to  be  procured, 
as  they  were  insensible  to  danger  and  regardless  of  death.  His 
refusal  to  ransom  the  city  caused  its  immediate  destruction  by 
fire.  The  citadel,  likewise,  was  levelled  to  the  ground.  A  more 
extraordinary  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  free-booters  was  by  a  bon- 
fire, made  of  logwood,  valued  at  £1,000,000  and  forming  part  of  the 
plunder,  which,  in  celebrating  the  festival  of  St.  Louis,  on  the 
anniversary  of  the  French  king,  whose  subjects  they  principally 
were,  was  given  to  the  flames  in  the  intoxication  of  folly  rather 
than  of  loyalty. 

The  last  memorable  attempt  of  the  buccaneers,  on  a  large  scale, 
in  this  part  of  the  world,  took  place  in  1697,  when  twelve  hun- 
dred men  joined  a  squadron  of  seven  ships  from  Europe,  in  order 
to  attack  the  city  of  Carthagena.  Their  commander  was  named 
Pointis,  a  man  of  little  honor  or  generosity,  but  intent  on  aggran- 
dizing himself.  The  enterprise  was  arduous;  the  place  the  strong- 
est in  the  new  world;  the  port  difficult  of  approach  to  enemies; 
and,  if  not  immediately  reduced,  the  climate  so  bad,  that  were  the 
Spaniards  even  to  do  nothing  more  than  to  contrive  delays,  it  would 
soon  destroy  the  invaders.  This,  however,  the  latter  knew.  They, 
therefore,  proceeded  vigorously  to  work,  seconded  by  that  zeal 
accustomed  to  contend  with  and  to  conquer  next  to  impossibilities ; 
of  guns  they  had  no  want,  and  their  men  were  prodigal  of  their 
blood;  each  fought  as  if  his  individual  honor  and  interest  were 
at  stake,  which,  indeed,  formed  the  life  of  these  associations;  and 
their  good  fortune,  as  usual,  prevailing,  the  city  yielded  to  their 
arms  with  a  booty  calculated  at  £1,750,000. 

Of  a  great  part  of  this  they  were  deprived  by  the  knavish  ra- 
pacity of  their  commander.  Exasperated  at  his  tricks,  a  party 
proceeded  toward  his  ship,  determined  to  inflict  summary  punish- 
ment on  the  offender,  but  recollecting  this  could  be  of  no  imme- 
diate service,  cried  out,  "Brethren,  why  should  we  pollute 
ourselves  with  the  blood  of  this  knave  ?  He  is  unworthy  the  in- 
dignation of  honorable  men!  Let  him  live  to  be  despised  and 
hooted,  rather  than  die  lamented  by  any  one  who  may  hear  of  his 
fate,  without  knowing  his  crimes.  Our  share  of  the  booty  is  still 
at  Carthagena,  and  there  alone  must  we  look  for  it." 

Returning  to  the  city,  which  was  re-entered  without  opposition, 
the  inhabitants  were  shut  up  in  the  churches  till  the  sum  of  £220, 
000  should  be  paid,  the  amount  of  the  sum  of  which  they  believed 
themselves  defrauded.  Possessed  of  this,  they  promised  to  retire 
without  molestation  to  property  or  person;  without  it  they  threat- 
ened the  most  frightful  destruction  to  both.  Unable,  or  unwilling, 


THE    WRECKERS.  77 

to  satisfy  men  whose  wants  were  as  boundless  as  their  conduct 
was  daring  and  unprincipled,  the  poor  people  knew  not  what 
to  do.  A  venerable  priest,  at  length,  mounted  the  pulpit,  to  aid, 
by  the  force  of  religious  eloquence,  the  exactions  of  that  rapacity 
which  it  was  probably  useless  to 'refuse,  and  impossible  to  prevent, 
and  which  if  ungratified,  would  terminate  in  more  terrible  and 
destructive  consequences.  This  appeal  not  producing  the  sum 
expected,  the  city  was  ordered  to  be  plundered.  Sated,  at  length, 
with  rioting  and  plunder;  with  money  I  merchandise,  and  move- 
ables  of  all  kinds,  they  quitted  this  unfortunate  place;  but,  soon 
afterwards,  falling  in  with  an  English  and  Dutch  squadron,  then 
in  alliance  with  Spain,  they  were  attacked  and  nearly  destroyed ;  part 
being  taken,  part  sunk,  and  part  escaping  to  St.  Domingo,  a  piece 
of  due  retributive  justice  for  their  extortionate  and  illegal  deeds, 
which  had  now  become,  on  many  occasions,  quite  piratical,  and 
unsanctioned  by  the  practices  of  fair  and  honorable  warfare. 

From  this  time  buccaneering  rapidly  declined,  the  majority  be- 
coming settlers  in  the  different  West  Indian  islands,  to  which 
they  were  induced  by  the  European  powers,  sending  out  ships-of- 
war  to  clear  those  seas  and  establish  perfect  security  in  commerce, 
which  had  been,  for  a  century,  much  interrupted,  and  so  far  as 
regarded  Spain,  often,  for  years  together,  quite  destroyed.  Those 
who  persisted  in  illegal  practices  were  executed  as  pirates;  while 
others,  more  disposed  to  acquire  wealth  by  honest  means,  received 
encouragement  from  the  local  governments  in  grants  of  land. 
The  renewal  of  war  with  Spain  occasionally  drew  forth  some  of 
the  more  turbulent  spirits  from  trrfcir  peaceful  occupations,  but 
the  greater  portion  had  acquired  settled  habits;  and,  in  time,  the 
name  of  buccaneer,  as  well  as  his  practices,  became  gradually 
obliterated  among  all  but  the  Spaniards,  by  whom  they  will  never 
be  forgotten. 

It  must  also  be  admitted,  that,  these  adventurers  acted,  in 
some  measure,  from  principle.  Many  conscientiously  detested 
the  Spanish  people  on  account  of  real  or  alleged  cruelties  towards 
the  Indians.  In  plundering  them,  they  believed  they  were  only 
despoiling  robbers  of  that  to  which  they  had  no  legal  claim;  and 
far  from  considering  their  actions  as  crimes,  esteemed  them  not 
merely  honorable  but  just. 


THE  WRECKERS. 

"  A  storm  !    A  storm  !"  the  Wreckers  cry, 
As  thev  look  from  the  shore-1— yet  no  storm  seems  nigh  ; 
But  wind  and  billow,  wreck  and  ship, 
Along  the  main  seem  all  asleep  : 
7* 


78  VOYAGE  OF  CAPTAIN  JAMES. 

But  where  is  the  day  ? — '  Tis  gone  !  Not  a  trace 
Of  the  sun  !  The  cloud  has  taken  his  place, 
And  moves  not— breaks  not — hanging  there, 
As  't  were  fixed  in  the  sultry,  thick'ning  air! 

A  flash  ! — Another  ! — sky  and  main 

Begin  to  move  ! — a  flash  again  ! 

Thunder — wind — the  storm  is  come, 

The  sea  's   a  smoking  sheet  of  foam  ! 

Rain ! — it  pours  in  floods,  as  though 

The  clouds  did  mock  the  floods  below  ! 

And  the  Vessel,  from  her  anchors  torn, 

Towards  the  shore  by  the  raging  billows  is  borne. 

Hurra  ! — Hurra  ! — a  wreck— Hurra  ! 
She  strikes — by  the  board  her  tall  masts  go ; 
She  reels — recoils,  and  strikes  again  ! 
They  hoist  the  long-boat  out — In  vain — 
'Tis  swampt !  She  now  beats  broadside  on — 
Another  sea — she  sinks!  she's  gone  ! 
Masts,  cordage,  planks,  the  breakers  strew  ! 
May  heaven  have  mercy  on  her  crew : 


VOYAGE  OF  CAPTAIN   JAMES, 

FOR   THE    DISCOVERY    OF    A    NORTH-WEST    PASSAGE. 

% 

In  the  year  1630,  several  wealthy  merchants  of  Bristol  united 
in  fitting  out  a  vesst  1  for  the  purpose  of  accurately  examining*  the 
whole  northen  coast  of  America.  The  command  of  this  vessel 
which  was  small,  only  of  seventy  tons  burden,  but  one  of  the 
strongest  ships  of  her  size  that  had  ever  been  built,  was  given  to 
Captain  James.  She  was  provisioned  for  eighteen  months,  and 
manned  with  only  twenty-two  seamen,  but  these  were  all  excellent 
sailors. 

His  stores  having  been  all  shipped,  and  the  men  on  board,  Cap- 
tain James  left  Bristol  in  the  month  of  April,  1631.  After  pass- 
ing the  southern  coast  of  Ireland,  he  sailed  in  a  west-north-west- 
erly direction,  and  on  the  fourth  of  June  discovered  the  coast  of 
Greenland.  Two  days  subsequently  to  this,  his  vessel  was 
encompassed  with  ice,  many  immense  pieces  of  which  beat  so 
violently  against  her  that  the  captam  was  fearful  she  would  have 
been  staved  and  sunk.  The  boat  that  accompanied  her  was  crush- 
ed to  atoms.  In  one  instance  he  was  obliged  to  order  the  ship 
to  be  made  fast  to  a  great  piece  of  the  ice,  and  during  a  day  and 
night  to  employ  men  incessantly  in  pushing  off  such  masses  of  ice 
as  iloated  against  her;  but  in  this  labor  all  their  poles  were  bro- 
ken. The  wind  at  length  blew  a  perfect  hurricane,  and,  though 


VOYAGE    OF    CAPTAIN    JAMES.  79 

the  broken  ice  on  almo'st  all  sides  rose  higher  than  the  decks, 
and  the  vessel  was  beaten  about  in  a  most  alarming  manner,  she 
suffered  no  injury. 

On  the  morning  of  the  tenth  of  June,  these  hardy  adventurers 
passed  some  masses  of  ice  that  were  as  high  as  the  topmast  of 
their  vessel,  and  left  Cape  Desolation,  in  Greenland,  to  the  east- 
ward. The  weather  was  now  so  cold  that  at  one  time  the  sails  and 
rigging  were  all  frozen.  On  the  twentieth,  the  ship  reached  the 
southern  point  of  the  island  of  Resolution,  at  the  entrance  of 
Hudson's  Strait,  but  she  was  several  times  carried  round  by  the 
current,  and  floating  ice,  and  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being 
crushed  to  pieces  before  she  could  be  brought  to  anchor.  It  now 
began  to  snow  heavily,  and  the  wind  blew  a  storm  from  the  west- 
ward. This  drove  the  ice  from  the  sea  into  the  harbor  where  the 
vessel  was  stationed,  until  it.  was  choked  up.  For  some  time  the 
ice  seemed  to  be  perfectly  firm  and  immoveable,  but  it  "floated 
out  again  at  the  ebb  of  the  tide.  The  various  dangers  to  which 
the  vessel  was  exposed  in  this  harbor,  of  being  thrown  against  the 
rocks,  crushed  to  pieces  in  the  ice,  and  sunk,  were  so  great  that 
the  captain  almosf  gave  up  all  hope  of  being  able  to  save  her. 
He  describes  the  thundering  noise  of  the  masses  of  ice  beating 
against  each  other,  the  rushing  of  the  water,  and  the  fury  of  the 
current  to  have  been  tremendous.  After  much  difficulty  and  the 
most  persevering  exertions,  however,  she  was  navigated  into  a  little 
cove  or  harbor,  where,  being  made  fast  to  the  rocks,  she  was  at 
length  rendered  tolerably  secure. 

Captain  James  landed  on  the  island,  but  found  that,  although  the 
summer  was  far  advanced,  the  ponds  were  yet  frozen.  The  ground 
was  rocky  and  barren,  and  no  traces  of  animals  were  visible 
in  the  snow,  though  it  was  evident  from  some  hearths  and  remains 
of  fire-wood  which  were  seen,  that  human  beings  had  not  long 
before  visited  the  place.  Captain  James  continued  here  two  days, 
and  then  sailed  westward;  but  the  masses  of  ice  were  still  almost 
impenetrable.  They  grated  the  sides  of  the  vessel  with  such  vio- 
lence that  it  was  feared  they  would  burst  through  the  planks.  On 
looking  out  from  the  mast-head  scarcely  an  acre  of  open  sea  was 
visible:  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  a  continued  and  irregular 
range  of  ice,  towering  in  different  places  to  an  immense  height. 
The  ship  was  thus  surrounded  till  the  twenty-seventh  of  June, 
when,  by  a  gale  from  the  south-east,  the  ice  opened,  and  she  was 
enabled  to  make  some  way. 

Though  exposed  to  incessant  danger  by  the  immense  masses 
of  ice  which  floated  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  Captain  James 
and  his  associates  proceeded  still  westward,  and  entered  Hud- 
son's Strait  about  the  beginning  of  July.  On  the  fifteenth  of  that 
month,  they  arrived  betwixt  Digg's  Island  and  Nottingham  Island, 
but  the  summer  was  so  cold  and  unfavorable  that  it  was  now 
evident  there  would  be  no  possibility  of  proceeding  much  further 


80  VOYAGE  OP  CAPTAIN  JAMES. 

northward  this  year.  About  a  fortnight  afterwards,  they  were  so 
fast  enclosed  in  the  ice,  that,  notwithstanding  the  ship  had  all  her 
sails  set,  and  it  blew  a  strong  breeze,  she  was  immoveable  and 
as  firmly  fixed,  as  if  she  had  been  in  a  dry  dock.  On  this,  the  cap- 
tain and  many  of  the  men  walked  out  of  her  to  amuse  themselves 
upon  the  ice.  Several  of  the  crew  now  began  to  murmur,  and  to 
express  great  alarm,  lest  they  should  not  be  able  either  to  proceed 
or  return;  and  Jest  their  provisions,  which  were  beginning  to  fall 
short,  would  soon  wholly  fail.  The  captain  encouraged  them  as 
well  as  he  was  able,  and  though  he  was  aware  their  murmuring 
was  not  without  reason,  he  affected  to  ridicule  their  fears.  Among 
other  contrivances  to  amuse  them,  he  took  a  quantity  of  spirits  up- 
on the  ice,  and  there  drank  the  king's  health,  although  there  was 
not  a  single  man  in  the  ship,  and  though  she  was  at  that  time  under 
all  her  sails.  This  was -the  twenty-eighth  of  July.  On  the  thir- 
tieth, they  made  some  little  way  through  the  ice,  part  of  the  crew 
heaving  the  vessel  along  with  their  shoulders,  whilst  others,  at 
the  same  time,  broke  off  the  corners  of  the  ice  with  mallets  and 
iron  crows,  to  clear  the  way.  This  labor  was  continued  on  the 
following  day,  and  after  much  fatigue,  they  got  the  ship  into  thirty- 
five  fathom  water.  All  this  time  they  were  in  latitude  58  deg. 
45  minutes  north,  and  a  few  days  afterwards  they  were  in  an  open 
sea  free  from  ice.  The  captain  and  his  crew  now  joined  in 
devout  thanksgiving  for  their  deliverance  from  the  dangers  to 
which  they  had  been  exposed. 

A  few  days  subsequently  to  this,  whilst  the  ship  was  under  sail, 
she  struck  upon  some  rocks  that  were  concealed  by  the  water, 
and  received  three  such  terrible  blows,  that  the  captain  was  fear- 
ful her  masts  would  have  been  shivered  to  pieces,  and  he  had  no 
doubt  that  a  hole  had  been  beaten  through  her  sides.  But  such 
was  the  strength  of  her  timbers  that  she  received  little  injury,  and 
in  a  short  time,  was  again  out  of  danger. 

On  the  twentieth  of  August,  and  in  latitude  57  deg.  north,  they 
came  within  sight  of  land,  part  of  the  continent  of  North  America, 
which  the  captain  named  New  South  Wales,  in  honor  of  Charles, 
Prince  of  Wales,  afterwards  King  Charles  the  second:  and  on  the 
third  of  September  they  passed  a  cape,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  Cape  Henrietta  Maria,  after  the  Queen.  In  the  ensuing  even- 
ing, they  encountered  such  a  tempest  of  thunder,  snow,  rain,  and 
wind,  as  none  of  the  crew  had  ever  before  been  exposed  to.  The 
sea  washed  completely  over  the  decks,  and  the  vessel  rolled  so 
tremendously,  that  it  was  not  without  great  difficulty  all  things 
could  be  kept  fast  in  the  hold,  and  betwixt  the  decks. 

As  the  winter  was  now  approaching,  Captain  James  began  to 
look  out  for  some  harbor,  where  he  and  his  companions  could 
pass  that  cheerless  season,  with  as  little  discomfort,  and  in  as  much 
security,  as  possible.  Landing,  on  the  third  of  October,  upon 
an  island,  in  the  bay  that  has  since  been  called  James's  Bay,  he 


VOYAGE     OF    CAPTAIN   JAMES.  81 

found  the  tracks  of  deer,  and  saw  some  wild  fowl;  but  not  being 
able  to  discover  a  safe  anchorage,  he  proceeded  onward  with  the 
vessel,  and  two  days  afterwards  moored  the  ship,  in  a  place  of 
tolerable  security  near  the  same  island.  It  now  snowed  without 
intermission,  and  was  so  cold  that  the  sails  were  frozen  quite  hard, 
and  the  cable  was  as  thick  with  ice  as  a  man's  body. 

Several  men  were  sent  ashore  to  cut  wood  for  fuel,  and  they 
collected  as  much  as,  it  was  estimated,  would  last  two  or  three 
months.  It  was  found  inconvenient,  particularly  for  some  of  the 
crew  who  were  sick,  to  continue  entirely  in  the  vessel;  a  kind 
of  house  was,  therefore,  erected  on  shore,  under  the  direction  of 
the  carpenter.  In  the  meantime  the  captain  and  some  of  the  men 
went  into  the  woods  to  see  whether  they  could  discover  any  traces 
of  human  beings,  that,  in  case  they  found  such,  they  might  be  on 
their  guard  against  attack.  *  None  were  found.  The  top-sails 
were  now  taken  down  from  the  vessel,  thawed,  and  dried  by  great 
fires,  and  then  folded  up  and  secured  from  wet  between  the  decks. 
The  main-sail  was  ca  ried  on  shore,  to  be  used  as  a  covering  for 
the  house.  In  about  four  days,  the  house  was  ready,  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  crew  slept  in  it  every  night,  armed  with  muskets  to  de- 
fend themselves  in  case  of  attack,  and  guarded  by  two  buck- 
hounds,  which  had  been  brought  from  England,  for  the  hunting  of 
deer.  Such  of  the  other  rigging  of  the  vessel  as  could  be  taken 
down,  was  now  removed,  and  placed  under  the  decks. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  October,  six  of  the  men  set  out  with  the 
dogs,  in  the  hope  of  killing  some  deer,  the  tracks  of  which  they  had 
previously  seen.  They  wandered  more  than  twenty  miles  over 
the  snow,  and  returned  the  next  day  with  one  small  and  lean  an- 
imal; having  passed  a  cold  and  miserable  night  in  the  woods. 
Others  went  out  a  few  days  afterwards,  and  to  a  still  greater  dis- 
tance; these  were  not  only  unsuccessful,  but  they  lost  one  of  their 
companions,  who,  on  attempting  to  cross  a  small  frozen  lake,  fell 
in  and  was  drowned.  The  captain  consequently  gave  directions 
that  hunting  to  such  distances  should  be  no  more  attempted. 

The  crew  at  first  brought  beer  ashore  from  the  ship;  but  this, 
even  in  their  house,  and  close  by  the  fire,  was  frozen  and  spoiled 
in  one  night.  After  this  they  drank  water,  which  they  obtained 
from  a  well  that  they  sunk  near  the  house.  Their  time  was 
chiefly  passed  in  setting  traps  and  hunting  for  foxes  and  other 
animals,  and  in  such  occjpations  as  were  requisite  for  their  own 
preservation. 

The  winter  was  now  so  far  advanced,  that  the  ship  appeared, 
from  the  shore,  like  a  piece  of  ice  in  the  form  of  a  ship.  The 
snow  was  frozen  on  every  part,  and  her  decks  and  sides  were  cov- 
ered with  ice.  The  captain  began  to  despair  of  ever  again  get- 
ting her  off.  Every  day  the  men  were  employed  in  beating  the 
ice  from  the  cables,  and  digging  it  out  of  the  hawsers  with  a 


82  VOYAGE      OF    CAPTAIN    JAMES. 

calking  iron;  and  in  these  operations  the  water  would  freeze  on 
their  clothes  and  hands,  so  as  v-ery  soon  to  render  them  unequal  to 
almost  any  exertion. 

The  ship  was  found  to  beat  so  much,  that  the  captain  could 
devise  no  other  means  of  preventing  her  from  being  shattered  to 
pieces  and  destroyed,  than  by  directing  holes  to  be  bored  through 
her  sides,  and  sinking  her  in  shallow  water;  where,  in  the  ensu- 
ing spring,  he  might  have  a  chance  of  again  raising  her.  This 
was  a  fearful  expedient;  but,  after  all  the  provisions  and  things  re- 
quisite for  use  on  shore  had  been  taken  out  of  her,  it  was  adopted ;  al- 
though it  was  the  general  opinion  of  the  crew  that  she  could  never 
be  floated  again.  They,  however,  had  so  strong  an  attachment 
for  their  captain,  and  so  much  confidence  in  him,  that,  even  in  the 
midst  of  despair,  they  obeyed  implicitly  all  his  commands.  With 
true  Christian  confidence,  he  exhorted  them  not  to  be  dismayed. 
"  if,"  said  he,  "  we  end  x>ur  days  here,  we  are  as  near  heaven 
as  in  England;  and  we  are  much  bound  to  God  Almighty,  for 
having  given  us  so  large  a  time  for  repentance,  and  having  thus, 
as  it  were,  daily  called  upon  us  to  prepare  our  souls  for  a  better 
life  in  heaven.  He  does  not,  in  the  meantime  deny  that  we 
may  use  all  proper  means  to  save  and  prolong  our  lives;  and  in 
my  judgment,  we  are  not  so  far  past  hope  of  returning  to  our  na- 
tive country,  but  that  I  see  a  fair  way  by  which  we  may  effect  it.'!. 
He  then  said  that  there  was  timber  enough  in  the  island  for  them 
to  build  a  pinnace  or  large  boat,  by  which  they  might  endeavor  to 
effect  their  escape,  in  case  their  vessel  should  be  destroyed.  This 
was  on  the  thirtieth  of  November. 

The  sufferings  and  the  hardships  which  these  brave  men  en- 
countered for  many  successive  months,  it  is  impossible  to  describe. 
Happily,  they  had  a  tolerable  store  of  provisions  from  their  ship, 
and  had  not  to  depend  upon  the  precarious  subsistence  to  be  ob- 
tained by  hunting.  Their  liquids  of  every  kind,  wine,  vinegar, 
oil,  Re.  were  all  frozen  so  hard,  that  they  were  obliged  to  cut 
them  with  hatchets,  and  then  melt  them  over  the  fire  for  use. 

In  the  beginning  of  January,  the  whole  surface  of  the  adjacent 
sea  was  so  entirely  frozen,  that  no  water  whatever  was  to  be  seen. 
Some  of  the  men  were  obliged  to  be  out  of  doors  a  considerable 
part  of  the  day,  in  fetching  timber,  and  in  other  necessary  em- 
ployments. Their  shoes  were  all  destroyed,  except  some  that 
had  been  sunk  in  the  ship,  and  which  were  now,  of  course  in- 
accessible. They  were,  consequently,  reduced  to  the  necessity 
of  binding  up  their  feet,  as  well  as  they  could,  in  pieces  of  cloth. 
Their  noses,  cheeks,  and  hands  were  sometimes  frozen  in  blisters, 
which  were  as  white  as  paper;  and  blisters  as  large  as  walnuts 
rose  on  different  parts  of  their  skin.  Their  mouths  became  sore, 
and  their  teeth  loose. 

Timber  was  aut  down,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  captain, 


VOYAGE    OF    CAPTAIN    JAMES.  83 

and  the  carpenter  and  crew  worked  hard  at  the  pinnace,  till  nearly 
the  end  of  March,  when  the  carpenter  became  so  weak  and  ill, 
that  it  was  necessary,  to  lead  him  to  his  labor. 

Though  they  were  in  the  midst  of  a  wood,  yet  when  their  fuel 
began  to  fail,  they  had  great  difficulty  in  obtaining  more.  Al- 
most all  the  axes  had  been  broken  in  felling  timber  for  the  pin- 
nace, and  it  was  peculiarly  requisite,  that  care  should  be  taken  of 
such  cutting  implements  as  remained,  lest  there  would  be  none  left 
for  finishing  it.  And,  in  felling  the  timber  now,  the  trees  were 
so  hard  frozen,  that  it  was  first  requisite  to  light  large  fires  round 
such  as  were  to  be  cut,  in  order  to  thaw  the  wood  before  the  axes 
could  make  anv  impression  upon  them. 

During  all  this  season  of  distress,  Captain  James  and  his  crew 
never  omitted  to  perform  their  religious  duties.  They  particular- 
ly solemnized  Easter  day,  the  twenty-sixth  of  April,  1632;  and  it 
was  on  this  day,  whilst  they  were  sitting  round  their  fire,  that  the 
captain  proposed  to  attempt,  on  the  first  opening  of  the  warm 
weather,  to  clear  the  ship  of  ice.  '.  This  was  considered  by  some 
of  the  crew  impossible;  because  they  believed  her  to  be  filled 
with  one  solid  mass  of  ice.  The  attempt,  however,  was  resolved 
upon;  and  the  question  was  as  to  the  implements  with  which  it 
was  to  be  made.  These  were  brought  into  review,  and  were  only 
two  iron  bars  (one  of  which  was  broken),  and. four  broken  shovels, 
apparently  very  ineffectual  instruments  for  such  a  labor. 

The  time  passed  miserably  and  slowly  on,  till  the  sixteenth  of 
May,  when  they  had  a  comfortable  and  sunny  day.  Some  efforts 
were  this  day  made  to  clear  the  decks  of  snow.  From  this  period 
the  vessel  began  to  occupy  much  of  the  attention  of  the  captain 
and  his  crew.  The  great  cabin  was  found  to  be  free  both  from  ice 
and  water,  and  a  fire  was  lighted  both  to  clear  and  dry  it.  One 
of  the  anchors,  which  was  supposed  to  have  been  lost,  they  found 
under  the  ice,  and  recovered.  The  rudder,  which  had  been  torn 
off  by  the  ice,  they  were  not  able  to  find.  By  the  twenty-fourth 
of  May,  they  had  labored  so  hard  in  clearing  the  vessel,  that 
they  came  to  a  cask,  and  could  perceive  that  there  was  some  wa- 
ter in  the  hold.  They  pierced  the  cask,  and  found  it  full  of  good 
beer;  which  was  a  cause  of  great  joy  to  them. 

Their  next  object  was  to  dig  through  the  ice  on  the  outside  of 
the  vessel,  to  the  holes  that  had  been  cut  for  the  purpose  of  sink- 
ing her.  They  succeeded  in  this  operation;  and,  through  the 
lowest  of  these,  a  considerable  quantity  of  water  flowed  out. 
The  holes  were  then  prevented  from  admitting  any  more  water,  by 
having  strong  boards  nailed  on  the  outside.  Five  days  afterwards 
the  weather  became  much  warmer  than  it  had  been.  The  water 
in  the  hold  of  the  vessel  tended  to  thaw  the  ice;  and,  by  means 
of  pumps,  it  was  gradually  cleared.  Several  butts  of  beer,  one 
of  cider,  arid  another  of  wine,  were  found  perfectly  sound  and 


<$4  VOYAGE    OF    CAPTAIN    JAMES. 

good;  as  well  as  many  barrels  of  salt  beef  and  pork.  A  consid- 
erable store  of  shoes  and  clothing  was  now  also  found.  These, 
when  dried,  were  peculiarly  acceptable.  But  it  was  a  subject  of 
sincere  rejoicing,  that,  on  examination  of  the  vessel,  no  defect 
could  be  perceived  in  her;  and  sanguine  hopes  began  to  be  en- 
tertained that  she  might  still  prove  capable  of  performing  the  re- 
mainder of  the  voyage.  Not  long  after  this,  the  rudder  was 
discovered  and  got  up  from  beneath  the  ice. 

The  carpenter  now  died.  He  had  r>een  a  man  beloved  by  the 
whole  crew,  and,  with  the  most  exemplary  patience,  had  endured 
a  long  illness,  in  the  course  of  which,  with  great  exertion,  he  had 
completed  all  the  most  difficult  parts  of  the  pinnace.  Thus,  al- 
though he  was  deeply  lamented  by  his  comrades,  the  loss  of  him 
was  not  so  severely  felt  as  it  might  otherwise  have  been.  At  this 
time  nearly  the  whole  of  the  crew  were  disabled,  by  illness,  from 
working;  nor  did  any  of  them  recover  until  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  warm  weather. 

From  the  elevated  parts  of  the  land,  the  open  water  was  first 
seen  on  the  nineteenth  of  June.  Four  days  afterwards  the  pro- 
visions and  other  articles  that  were  ashore,  were  carried  on  board. 
Across  was  next  erected:  the  king  and  queen's  picture  were 
tied  to  the  top  of  it;  and  the  island  was  named  Charlton  Island. 
The  rigging  of  the  ship  was  now  set.  On  the  thirteenth,  the  sea 
was  clear  of  ice;  and  on  the  second  of  July,  after  the  captain  and 
his  crew  had  all  devoutly  paid  thanksgiving  to  the  Almighty  for 
their  providential  deliverance,  they  weighed  anchor,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  their  voyage. 

Still,  however,  though  in  the  open  sea,  they  suffered  great  in- 
convenience from  the  beating  of  the  floating  ice  against  the  ship. 
On  the  twenty-second  of  July,  they  again  passed  Cape  Henrietta 
Maria.  The  ship  had  now  become  so  leaky,  that,  for  some  time, 
it  was  found  difficult  to  keep  her  clear  of  water  by  the  pumps. 
After  almost  incredible  exertions,  they  made  their  way  northward, 
according  to  their  estimate,  as  far  as  69  deg.  35  minutes,  when  at 
length  they  came  to  an  impenetrable  mass  of  ice.  It  was  the 
opinion  of  the  whole  crew,  that  in  the  present  condition  of  the  ship, 
the  autumn  now  fast  approaching,  it  would  not  only  be  imprudent, 
but  wholly  impracticable,  to  make  any  further  attempt  to  discover 
the  hoped  for  passage  of  the  sea  to  the  north-west.  The  captain, 
therefore,  with  a  sorrowful  heart,  consented  to  relinquish  his  ob 
ject:  and,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  August,  determined  on  returning 
to  England.  In  his  passage  homeward,  the  vessel  encountered 
many  difficulties  from  contrary  winds  and  stormy  weather;  but,  at 
length,  safely  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Severn,  on  the  twenty- 
second  October,  1632. 


85 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

ATTER  many  months  of  anxious  and  painful  expectancy,  I  at 
length  succeeded  in  obtaining  my  appointment  to  the  situation  I 
had  so  ardently  wished  for.  Despairing  at  my  apparent  want  of 
success,  I  had  given  up  all  hopes,  and  had  engaged  to  go  servant 
in  the  Clydesdale  to  the  East  Indies,  when  the  favorable  result 
of  my  friend's  exertions  changed  the  aspect  of  mv  affairs.  My 
instructions  set  forth  the  necessity  of  my  being  at  Surinam  by  a 
certain  day,  otherwise  I  should  be  too  late  to  join  the  corps  to  which 
I  was  appointed,  which,  on  the  ceding  up  of  the  place  to  the 
Dutch,  was  to  proceed  to  Canada.  As  it  wanted  only  two  months 
of  that  period,  it  became  necessary  to  inquire  for  some  vessel 
without  loss  of  time.  Giving  up  my  engagement  with  the  Clydes- 
dale, I  proceeded  to  the  harbor,  and  after  a  toilsome  search,  suc- 
ceeded in  discovering  a  ship  chartered  by  a  Glasgow  company 
lying  ready  at  the  west  quay,  and  to  sail  with  that  evening's  tide. 
While  I  stood  examining  the  vessel  from  the  pier,  two  sailors,  who 
seemed  to  be  roaming  idly  about,  stopped,  and  began  to  converse 
by  my  side. 

"Has  the  old  Dart  got  all  her  hands,  Tom!"  said  the  one,  "that 
she  has  her  ensign  up  for  sailing?  They  say  she  is  sold  to  the 
lubberly  Dutchmen  now — what  cheer  to  lend  her  a  hand  out,  and 
get  our  sailing-penny  for  a  glass  of  grog?"  "No,  no;  bad  cheer!" 
replied  the  other;  "mayhap  I  didn't  tell  you  that  I  made  a  trip  in 
her  four  years  ago;  and  a  cleaner  or  livelier  thing  is  not  on  the 
water!  But  there  is  a  limb  of  the  big  devil  in  her  that  is  enough 
to  cause  her  to  sink  to  the  bottom.  It  was  in  our  voyage  out 
that  he  did  for  Bill  Burnet  with  the  pump  sounding-rod,  because 
the  little  fellow  snivelled  a  bit,  and  was  not  handy  to  jump  when 
he  was  ordered  aloft  to  set  the  fore-royal.  It  was  his  first  voyage, 
and  the  boy  was  mortal  afraid  to  venture;  but  the  Captain  swore 
he  would  make  him,  and  in  his  passion  took  him  a  rap  with  the 
iron-rod,  and  killed  him.  When  he  saw  what  he  ha<4  done,  he 
lifted,  and  hove  him  over  the  side;  and  many  a  long  day  the  men 
wondered  what  had  become  of  little  Bill,  for  they  were  all  below 
at  dinner,  and  none  but  myself  saw  the  transaction.  It  was  need- 
less for  me  to  complain,  and  get  him  overhauled,  as  there  were 
jio  witnesses;  but  I  left  the  ship,  and  births  would  be  scarce  before 
I  would  sail  with  him  again." 

Knowing  what  tyrants  shipmasters  are  in  general,  and  how 
much  their  passengers'  comfort  depends  on  them,  I  was  somewhat 
startled  by  this  piece  of  information  respecting  the  temper  of  the 
man  I  proposed  to  sail  with.  But  necessity  has  no  law!  The  cir- 
cumstance probably  was  much  misrepresented,  and,  from  a  simple 

8 


86  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

act  of  discipline  exaggerated  lo  an  act  of  wanton  cruelty.  But  be 
that  as  it  might-^my  affairs  were  urgent.  There  was  no  other 
vessel  for  the  same  port — I  must  either  take  my  passage,  or  run 
the  risk  of  being  superseded.  The  thing  was  not  to  be  thought 
of;  so  I  went  and  secured  my  birth.  As  my  preparations  were 
few  and  trifling,  I  had  every  thing  arranged,  and  on  board,  just  as 
the  vessel  was  unmooring  from  the  quay.  During  the  night  we 
got  down  to  the  Clock  light-house,  and  stood  off*  and  on,  waiting 
for  the  Captain,  who  had  remained  behind  to  get  the  ship  cleared 
out  at  the  Custom  house.  Soon  afterwards  he  joined  us,  and  the 
pilot  leaving  us  in  the  return-boat,  we  stood  down  the  Forth  under 
all  our  canvass. 

For  four  weeks -we  had  a  quick  and  pleasant  passage.  The 
Dart  did  not  belie  her  name;  for,  being  American-built,  and  origi- 
nally a  privateer,  she  sailed  uncommonly  fast,  generally  running 
at  the  rate  of  twelve  knots  an  hour. 

As  I  had  expected,  Captain  Mahone  proved  to  be,  in  point  of 
acquirements,  not  at  all  above  the  common  run  of  shipmasters. 
He  was  haughty  and  overbearing,  domineered  over  the  crew  with 
a  high  hand;  in  return  for  which,  he  was  evidently  feared  and  de- 
tested by  them  all.  He  had  been  many  years  in  the  West  Indies; 
part  of  which  time  he  had  ranged  as  commander  of  a  privateer,  and 
had,  bet  ween  the  fervid  suns  of  such  high  latitudes  and  the  copious 
use  of  grog,  become  of  a  rich  mahogany  color,  or  something  be- 
tween vermillion  and  the  tint  of  a  sheet  of  new  copper.  He  was 
a  middle-sized  man;  square  built,  with  a  powerful  muscular  frame. 
His  aspect  naturally  harsh  and  forbidding,  was  rendered  more  so 
by  the  sinister  expression  of  his  left  eye,  which  had  been  nearly 
forced  out  by  some  accident — and  the  lineaments  of  his  countenance 
expressed  plainly  that  he  was  passionate  and  furious  in  the  ex- 
treme. In  consequence  of  this,  I  kept  rather  distant  and  aloof; 
and,  except  at  meals,  we  seldom  exchanged  more  than  ordinary 
civilities. 

By  our  reckoning,  our  ship  had  now  got  into  the  latitude  of  the 
Bermudas,  when  one  evening,  at  sun-set,  the  wind,  which  had 
hitherto  been  favorable,  fell  at  once  into  a  dead  calm.  The  day 
had  been  clear  and  bright;  but  now,  huge  masses  of  dark  and 
conical-shaped  clouds  began  to  tower  over  each  other  in  the  west- 
ern horizon,  which,  being  tinged  with  the  rays  of  the  sun,  dis- 
played that  lurid  and  deep  brassy  tint  so  well  known  to  mariners 
as  the  token  of  an  approaching  storm.  All  the  sailors  were  of 
opinion  that  we  should  have  a  coarse  night;  and  every  precaution 
that  good  seamanship  could  suggest  was  taken  to  make  the  vessel 
snug  before  the  gale  came  on.  The  oldest  boys  were  sent  up  to 
hand  and  send  down  the  royal  and  top-gallant  sails,  and  strike  the 
masts,  while  the  top-sails  and  stays  were  close-reefed.  These 
preparations  were  hardly  accomplished,  when  the  wind  shifted, 
and  took  us  a-back  with  such  violence  as  nearly  to  capsize  the 


87 

vessel.  The  ship  was  put  round  as  soon  as  possible,  and  brought 
to  till  the  gale  should  fall:  while  all  hands  remained  on  deck  in 
case  of  any  emergency.  About  ten,  in  the  interval  of  a  squall,  we 
heard  a  gun  fired  as  a  signal  of  distress.  The  night  was  as  black  as 
pitch;  but  the  flash  showed  us  that  the  stranger  was  not  far  to 
leeward:  so,  to  avoid  drifting  on  the  wreck  during  the  darkness, 
the  main-top-sail  was  braced  round,  and  filled,  and  the  ship  haul- 
ed to  windward.  In  this  manner  we  kept  alternately  beating  and 
heaving-to  as  the  gale  rose  or  fell  till  the  morning  broke,  when, 
through  the  haze,  we  perceived  a  small  vessel  with  her  masts  car- 
ried away.  As  tiie  wind  had  taken  off,  the  Captain  had  gone  to 
bed:  so  it  was  the  mate's  watch  on  deck.  The  steersman,  an  old 
gray-headed  seaman,  named  James  Gemmel,  proposed  to  bear 
down  and  save  the  people,  saying  he  had  been  twice  wrecked 
himself,  and  knew  what  it  was  to  be  in  such  a  situation.  As  the 
Captain  was  below,  the  mate  was  irresolute  what  to  do;  being 
aware  that  the  success  of  the  speculation  depended  on  their  get- 
ting to  Surinam  before  it  was  given  up:  however,  he  was  at  length 
persuaded — the  helm  was  put  up,  and  the  ship  bore  away. 

As  we  neared  the  wreck,  and  were  standing  by  the  mizzen 
shrouds  with  our  glasses,  the  Captain  came  up  from  the  cabin. 
He  looked  up  with  astonishment  to  the  sails,  and  the  direction  of 
the  vessel's  head,  and,  in  a  voice  of  suppressed  passion,  said,  as 
he  turned  to  the  mate,  "What  is  the  meaning  of  this.  Mr.  Wyllie? 
Who  has  dared  to  alter  the  ship's  course  without  my  leave — when 
you  know  very  well  that  we  shall  hardly  be  in  time  for  the  market, 
use  what  expedition  we  may?"  The  young  man  was  confused 
by  this  unexpected  challenge,  and  stammered  out  something  about 
Gemmel  having  persuaded  him.  "It  was  me,  sir!"  respectfully 
interfered  the  old  sailor,  wishing  to  avert  the  storm  from  the  mate; 
"I  thought  you  wouldn't  have  the  heart  to  leave  the  wreck  and 
these  people  to  perish,  without  lending  a  hand  to  save  them.  We 
should  be  neither  Christians  nor  true  seamen  to  desert  her,  and 

"  "Damn  you  and  the  wreck,  you  old  canting  rascal!  do  you 

pretend  to  stand  there  and  preach  to  me?"  thundered  the  Captain, 
his  fury  breaking  out,  "I'll  teach  you  to  disobey  my  orders! — 
I'll  give  you  something  to  think  of!"  and  seizing  a  capstan-spar 
which  lay  near  him,  he  hurled  it  at  the  steersman  with  all  his 
might.  The  blow  was  effectual — one  end  of  it  struck  him  across 
the  head  with  such  force  as  to  sweep  him  in  an  instant  from  his 
station  at  the  wheel,  and  to  dash  him  with  violence  against  the 
lee-bulwarks,  where  he  lay  bleeding,  and  motionless.  "  Take  that, 
and  be  damned!"  exclaimed  the  wretch,-  as  he  took  the  helm,  and 
sang  out  to  the  men, — "Stand  by  sheets,  and  braces — hard  a-lee 
— let  go!"  In  a  twinkling  the  yards  were  braced  round,  and 
the  Part,  laid  within  six  points  of  the  wind,  was  flying  through 
the  water. 

Meanwhile  Gemmel  was  lying  without  any  one  daring  to  assist 


88  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

him;  for  the  crew  were  so  confounded  that  they  seemed  quite  un- 
determined how  to  act.  I  stepped  to  him,  therefore,  and  the  mate 
following  my  example,  we  lifted  him  up.  As  there  was  no  ap- 
pearance of  respiration,  I  placed  my  hand  on  his  heart — but  pul- 
sation had  entirely  ceased — the  old  man  was  dead.  The  bar  had 
struck  him  directly  on  the  temporal  bone,  and  had  completely  frac- 
tured that  part  of  the  skull. 

"He  is  a  murdered  man,  Captain  Mahone!"  said  I,  laying  down 
the  body,  "murdered  without  cause  or  provocation."  "  IN  one  of 
your  remarks,  Sir!"  he  retorted;  "what  the  devil  have  you  to  do 
with  it?  Do  you  mean  to  stir  up  my  men  to  mutiny?  Or  do  you 
call  disobeying  my  orders  no  provocation?  I'll  answer  it  to  those 
who  have  a  right  to  ask;  but  till  then,  let  me  see  the  man  who 
dare  open  his  mouth  to  me  in  this  ship."  "I  promise  you,"  re- 
turned I,  "that  though  you  rule  and  tyrannise  here  at  present,  your 
power  shall  have  a  termination,  and  you  shall  be  called  to  account 
for  your  conduct  in  this  day's  work — rest  assured  that  this  blood 
shall  be  required  at  your  hands,  though  you  have  hitherto  escaped 
punishment  for  what  has  stained  them  already."  This  allusion  to 
the  murder  of  little  Bill  Burnet  seemed  to  stagger  him  considera- 
bly— he  stopped  short  before  me,  and,  while  his  face  grew  black 
with  suppressed  wrath  and  fury,  whispered,  "I  warn  you  again, 
young  man!  to  busy  yourself  with  your  own  matters — meddle  not 
with  what  does  not  concern  you;  and  belay  your  slack  jaw,  or,  by 

!  Rink  Mahone  will  find  a  way  to  make  it  fast  for  you!" 

He  then  turned  round,  and  walked  forward  to  the  forecastle. 

During  this  affray  no  attention  had  been  paid  to  the  wreck, 
though  the  crew  had  set  up  a  yell  of  despair  on  seeing  us  leave 
them.  Signals  and  shouts  were  still  repeated,  and  a  voice,  loud- 
er in  agony  than  the  rest,  implored  our  help  for  the  love  of  the 
blessed  Virgin;  and  offered  riches  and  absolution  to  the  whole 
ship's  company  if  they  would  but  come  back.  The  Captain  was 
pacing  fore  and  aft  without  appearing  to  mind  them,  when,  as  if 
struck  with  some  sudden  thought,  he  lifted  his  glass  to  his  eye — 
seemed  to  hesitate — walked  on — and  then,  all  at  once  changing 
his  mind,  he  ordered  the  vessel  again  before  the  wind. 

On  speaking  the  wreck,  she  proved  to  be  a  Spanish  felucca 
from  the  island  of  Cuba,  bound  for  Curacoa,  on  the  coast  of  the 
Caraccas.  As  they  had  lost  their  boats  in  the  storm,  and  could 
not  leave  their  vessel,  our  Captain  lowered  and  manned  our  jolly- 
boat,  and  went  off  to  them. 

After  an  absence  of  some  hours  he  returned  with  the  passengers, 
consisting  of  an  elderly  person  in  the  garb  of  a  catholic  priest,  a  sick 
gentleman,  a  young  lady,  apparently  daughter  of  the  latter,  and  a 
female  black  slave.  With  the  utmost  difficulty,  and  writhing  under 
some  excruciating  pain,  the  invalid  was  got  on  board  and  carried 
down  to  the  cabin,  where  he  was  laid  on  a  bed  on  the  floor.  To 
the  tender  of  my  professional  services  the  invalid  returned  his 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE.  89 

thanks,  and  would  have  declined  them,  expressing  his  conviction 
of  being  past  human  aid,  but  the  young  lady,  eagerly  catching  at 
even  a  remote  hope  of  success,  implored  him  with  tears  to  accept 
my  offer.  On  examination  I  found  his  fears  were  but  too  well 
grounded.  In  his  endeavors  to  assist  the  crew  during  the  gale 
he  had  been  standing  near  the  mast,  part  of  which,  or  the  rigging, 
having  fallen  on  him,  had  dislocated  several  of  his  ribs,  and  injur- 
ed his  spine  beyond  remedy.  All  that  could  now  be  done  was 
to  afford  a  little  temporary  relief  from  pain,  which  I  did;  and 
leaving  him  to  the  care  of  the  young  lady  and  the  priest,  I  left 
the  cabin. 

On  deck  I  found  all  bustle  and  confusion.  The  ship  was  still 
lying-to,  and  the  boats  employed  in  bringing  the  goods  out  of  the 
felucca,  both  of  which  were  the  property  of  the  wounded  gentle- 
man. The  body  of  the  old  man,  Gemmel,  had  been  removed  some- 
where out  of  sight;  no  trace  of  blood  was  visible,  and  Captain 
Mahone  seemed  desirous  to  banish  all  recollections  both  of  our 
quarrel  and  its  origin. 

As  the  invalid  was  lying  in  the  cabin,  and  my  state-room  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  lady  and  her  female  attendant,  I  got  a  temporary  birth 
in  the  steerage  made  up  for  myself  for  the  night.  I  had  not  long 
thrown  myself  down  on  my  cot,  which  was  only  di\ided  from  the 
main-cabin  by  a  bulk-head,  when  I  was  awakened  by  the  deep 
groans  of  the  Spaniard.  The  violence  of  his  pain  had  again  re- 
turned, and  between  the  spasms  I  heard  the  weeping  and  gentle 
voice  of  the  lady  soothing  his  agony,  and  trying  to  impart  hopes 
and  prospects  to  him,  which  her  own  hysterical  sobs  told  plainly 
she  did  not  herself  feel.  The  priest  also  frequently  joined,  and 
urged  him  to  confess.  To  this  advice  he  remained  silent  for 
awhile;  but  at  length  he  addressed  the  lady:  "The  Padre  says  true, 
Isabella!  Time  wears  apace,  and  I  feel  that.  I  shall  soon  be  be- 
yond its  limits,  and  above  its  concerns!  But  ere  I  go,  I  would 
say  that  which  it  would  impart  peace  to  my  mind  to  disclose — I 
would  seek  to  leave  you  at  least  one  human  being  to  befriend  and 
protect  you  in  your  utter  helplessness.  Alas!  that  Diego  di  Mon- 
taldo's  daughter  should  ever  be  thus  destitute!  Go!  my  love!  I 
would  be  alone  a  little  while  with  the  father."  An  agony  of  tears 
and  sobs  was  the  only  return  made  by  the  poor  girl,  while  the 
priest  with  gentle  violence  led  her  into  the  state-room. 

"Now,"  continued  the  dying  man,  "listen  tome  while  I  have 
strength.  You  have  only  known  me  as  a  merchant  in  Cuba;  but 
such  I  have  not  been  always.  Mine  is  an  ancient  and  noble 
family  in  Catalonia;  though  I  unhappily  disgraced  it,  and  have 
been  estranged  from  it  long.  I  had  the  misfortune  to  have  weak 
and  indulgent  parents,  who  idolized  me  as  the  heir  of  their  house, 
and  did  not  possess  resolution  enough  to  thwart  me  in  any  of  my 
wishes  or  desires,  however  unreasonable.  My  boyhood  being 
thus  spoiled,  it  is  no  matter  of  wonder  that  my  youth  should  have 

8* 


90  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

proved  wild  and  dissolute.  My  companions  were  as  dissipated 
as  myself,  and  much  of  our  time  was  spent  in  gambling  and  other 
extravagances.  One  evening  at  play,  I  quarrelled  with  a  young 
nobleman  of  high  rank  and  influence;  we  were  both  of  us  hot  and 
passionate,  so.  we  drew  on  the  spot  and  fought,  and  I  had  the 
misfortune  to  run  him  through  the  heart  and  leave  him  dead.  Not 
daring  to  remain  longer  at  home,  I  fled  in  disguise  to  Barcelona, 
where  I  procured  a  passage  in  a  vessel  for  the  Spanish  Main. 
On  our  voyage  we  were  taken  by  buccaneers;  and,  the  roving 
and  venturous  mode  of  life  of  these  bold  and  daring  men  suiting 
both  my  inclination  and  finances,  I  agreed  to  make  one  of  their 
number.  For  many  months  we  were  successful  in  our  enterprises: 
we  ranged  the  whole  of  these  seas,  and  made  a  number  of  prizes, 
some  of  which  were  rich  ships  of  our  own  colonies.  In  course 
of  time  we  amassed  such  a  quantity  of  specie  as  to  make  us  un- 
willing to  venture  it  in  one  bottom;  so  we  agreed  to -hide  it  ashore 
and  divide  it  on  our  return  from  our  next  expedition.  But  our 
good  fortune  forsook  us  this  time.  Daring  a  calm  the  boats  of 
the  Guarda-costa  came  on  us,  overpowered  the  ship,  and  made 
all  the  crew,  except  myself  and  two  others,  prisoners.  We  es- 
caped with  our  boat,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  the  island  of  Cuba, 
where  both  of  my  comrades  died  of  their  wounds.  Subsequent 
events  induced  me  to  settle  at  St.  Juan  de  Buenavista,  where  I 
married,  and,  as  a  merchant,  prospered  and  became  a  rich  man. 
But  my  happiness  lasted  not!  My  wife  caught  the  yellow  fever  and 
died,  leaving  me  only  this  one  child.  I  now  loathed  the  scene 
of  my  departed  happiness,  and  felt  all  the  longings  of  an  exile  to 
revisit  my  native  country.  For  this  purpose  I  converted  all  my 
effects  into  money;  and  am  thus  far  on  my  way  to  the  hidden 
treasure,  with  which  I  intended  to  return  to  Spain.  But  the 
green  hills  of  Catalonia  will  never  more  gladden  mine  eyes!  My 
hopes  and  wishes  were  only  for  my  poor  girl.  Holy  father!  you 
know  not  a  parent's  feelings — its  anxieties  and  its  fears!  The 
thoughts  of  leaving  my  child  to  the  mercy  of  strangers;  or,  it  may 
be,  to  their  barbarities,  in  this  lawless  country,  is  far  more  dread- 
ful than  the  anguish  of  my  personal  sufferings.  With  you  rests 
my  only  hope.  Promise  me  your  protection  towards  her,  and  the 
half  of  all  my  wealthjs  yours." 

''Earthly  treasures,"  replied  the  priest,  "avail  not  with  one 
whose  desires  are  fixed  beyond  the  little  handful  of  dust  which 
perisheth — my  life  is  devoted  to  the  service  of  my  Creator;  and 
the  conversion  of  ignorant  men,  men  who  have  never  heard  of  his 
salvation.  On  an  errand  of  mercy  came  I  to  this  land;  and  if 
the  heathen  receive  it,  how  much  more  a  daughter  of  our  most 
holy  church?  I,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  our  community,  accept 
of  your  offer,  and  swear  on  this  blessed  emblem  to  fulfil  all  your 
wishes  to  the  best  of  my  poor  abilities." 

"Enough,  enough  f"  said  Montaldo,  "I  am  satisfied!    Among  that 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE.  91 

archipelago  of  desert  islands,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Roccas, 
situated  on  the  coast  of  the  province  of  Venezuela,  in  New  Gra- 
nadu,  there  is  one  called  the  Wolf-rock:  it  is  the  longest  and 
most  northern  of  the  group,  and  lies  the  most  to  seaward.  At 
the  eastern  point,  which  runs  a  little  way  into  the  sea,  there  stands 
an  old  vanilla,  blasted  and  withered,  and  retaining  but  a  single 
solitary  branch.  On  the  eve  of  the  festival  of  St.  Jago  the  moon 
will  be  at  her  full  in  the  west.  At  twenty  minutes  past  midnight 
she  will  attain  to  her  highest  latitude  in  the  heavens,  and  then  the 
shadow  of  the  tree  will  be  thrown  due  east.  Watch  till  the  branch 
and  stem  unite  and  form  only  one  line  of  shade — mark  its  extrem- 
ity— for  there,  ten  feet  below  the  surface,  the  cask  containing  the 
gold  is  buried.  That  gold,  father,  was  sinfully  got;  but  fasts  and 
penances  have  been  done,  masses  without  number  have  been  said, 
find  1  trust  that  the  blessed  Virgin  has  interceded  for  the  forgive- 
n oss  of  that  great  wickedness!  I  have  now  confessed  all,  and 
confide  in  your  promise;  and  as  you  perform  your. oath,  so  will 
the  blessing  or  curse  of  a  dying  man  abiderwith  you.  I  feel  faint, 
dving.  Oh!  let  me  clasp  my  child  once  more  to  my  heart  before 
I " 

Here  the  rest  of  the  sentence  became  indistinct  from  the  death- 
rattle  in  his  throat.  I  leaped  off  my  cot,  and  sprang  up  the  hatch- 
way, and  had  my  foot  on  the  top  of  the  companion-ladder,  when  a 
piercing  shriek  from  below  making  me  quicken  my  steps,  I  missed 
my  hold,  and  fell  on  some  person  stationed  on  the  outside  of  the 
cabin  door.  The  person,  without  uttering  a  single  word,  rose 
and  ascended  the  steps;  but  as  he  emerged  into  the  faint  light 
which  still  lingered  in  the  horizon,  I  fancied  that  I  could  distin- 
guish him  to  be  the  Captain.  On  my  entering,  I  found  the  Span- 
iard dead,  and  his  daughter  lying  in  a  state  of  insensibility  by  his 
side;  while  the  female  slave  was  howling  and  tearing  her  hair  like 
one  in  a  frenzy.  The  priest  was  entirely  absorbed  in  his  de- 
votions; so,  without  disturbing  him, I  lifted  the  lady  and  bore  her 
into  the  state-room.  The  greater  part  of  the  night  was  passed  in 
trying  to  restore  her  to  sensation.  Fit  after  fit  followed  each 
other  in  such  quick  succession  that  I  began  to  apprehend  the  re- 
sult; but  at  length  the  hysterical  paroxysm  subsided,  and  tears 
coming  to  her  relief,  she  became  somewhat  composed,  when  I  left 
her  in  charire  of  her  attendant. 

The  next  day  was  spent  in  taking  out  the  remainder  of  the 
felucca's  cargo.  There  seemed  now  no  anxiety  on  the  captain's 
part  to  proceed  on  his  voyage — he  appeared  to  have  forgot  the 
necessity,  expressed  on  a  former  occasion,  of  being  in  port  within 
a  limited  time.  He  was  often  in  a  state  of  inebriety ;  for  the  wine 
and  spirits  of  the  Spaniards  were  lavishly  served  out  to  the  whole 
ship's  company,  with  whom  he  also  mixed  more;  and  banished 
that  haughtiness  of  bearing  which  had  marked  his  conduct  hith- 
erto. 


92  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

In  the  evening  the  body  of  Don  Diego  was  brought  upon  deck, 
where  his  crew,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  priest,  prepared 
it  for  its  commitment  to  the  deep.  The  corpse  was,  as  is  usual 
in  such  cases,  wrapped  up  in  the  blankets  and  sheets  in  which  it 
had  lain,  and  a  white  napkin  was  tied  over  the  face  and  head.  In 
its  right  hand,  which  was  crossed  over  the  breast,  was  placed  a 
gold  doubloon.  Its  left  ,held  a  small  bag  containing  a  book, 
a  hammer,  and  a  candle,  while  on  the  bosom  was  laid  the  little 
crucitix  worn  by  the  deceased.  It  was  next  enveloped  in  a  ham- 
mock, with  a  couple  of  eight-pound  shots,  and  a  bag  of  ballast  at 
the  feet  to  sink  it.  At  midnight  the  vessel  was  hove-to,  and  all 
the  ship's  company  assembled  at  the  lee-gangway.  The  Span- 
iards and  negroes  bore  each  a  burning  torch  in  his  hand ;  the 
blaze  of  which,  as  they  held  them  elevated  above  their  heads,  cast 
a  strange  and  fearful  light  through  the  deep  darkness,  and  illum- 
ined the  ^>cean  far  and  wide  with  a  supernatural  refulgency. 
When  all  was  ready,  the  priest,  accompanied  by  Isabella,  came 
up  from  the  cabin,  and  the  Spaniards  lifting  up  the  body,  carried 
it  forward  to  the  waist,  where  one  of  the  ship's  gratings  had 
been  put  projecting  over  the  side,  and  on  this  the  corpse  was 
laid,  and  its  leet  to  the  water.  Around  this  the  torch-bearers 
formed  a  circle,  and  the  priest,  standing  at  the  head,  began  the 
funeral  service  for  the  dead  at  sea.  The  wind  had  now  subsided 
into  a  gentle  breeze;  and  nothing  disturbed  the  profound  silence 
of  the1  crew  during  mass,  save  the  slight  splashing  of  the  waves 
against  the  windward  side  of  the  ship,  and  the  deep  drawn,  con- 
vulsive sobs  of  the  young  lady  as  she  stood,  envelop«d  in  the 
mantillo,  in  the  obscurity  of  the  main-rigging.  Mass  being  con- 
cluded, the  priest  solemnly  chanted  the  funeral  anthem: — "May 
the  angels  conduct  thee  into  Paradise;  may  the  martyrs  receive 
thee  at  thy  coming;  and  mayest  thou  have  eternal  rest  with  Laz- 
arus, who  was  formerly  poor!"  He  then  sprinkled  the  body 
with  holy  water  and  continued: — "As  it  hath  pleased  God  to  take 
the  soul  of  our  dear  brother  here  departed  unto  himself,  we 
therefore,  commit  his  body  to  the  deep,  in  the  sure  and  certain 
hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection  on  that  day  when  the  sea  shall  give 
up  its  dead.  Let  him  rest  in  peace!"  The  Spaniards  responded 
"  Amen!"  and  the  priest  repeating,  "May  his  soul,  and  the  souls 
of  all  the  faithful  departed,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  rest  in 
peace — Amen!"  made  the  sign  of  the  cross;  and  the  bow-chaser, 
which  had  been  loaded  and  made  ready  for  the  occasion,  firing, 
the  end  of  the  grating  was  gently  elevated,  and  the  corpse  heavily 
plunged  into  the  water.  The  waves  parted,  heaving  and  foaming 
round  the  body  as  it  disappeared, — when  to  our  horror  and  aston- 
ishment we  beheld  it,  the  next  minute,  slowly  return  to  the  surface, 
deprived  of  the  canvass  covering  in  which  it  had  been  sewed. 
The  dead  man  came  up  as  he  had  gone  down,  in  an  upright  posi- 
tion, and  floated  a  little  time  with  his  back  to  the  vessel;  but  the 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE.  93 

motion  of  the  water  turned  him  round  by  degrees  till  we  distinctly 
saw  his  face.  The  head  was  thrown  hack,  and  the  eyes  wide 
open;  and  under  the  strong  stream  of  light  poured  on  them  from 
the  torches,  they  seemed  to  glare  ghastly  and  fearfully  upwards. 
His  grav  hairs,  long  and  dishevelled,  floated  ahout  his  face,  at 
times  partially  obscuring  it;  and  one  arm,  stretched  forth,  and 
agitated  by  the  action  of  the  waves,  appeared  as  if  in  the  act  of 
threatening  us.  When  the  first  burst  of  horror  had  subsided,  I 
caught  hold  of  Isabella  to  prevent  her  seeing  the  body,  and  was 
leading  her  off,  when  some  of  the  men,  lowering  their  torches 
from  the  main-chains,  whispered  that  it  was  the  murdered  man, 
old  James  Gemmel.  The  Captain  had  bgen  hitherto  looking  on 
with  the  rest  without  having  apparently  recognised  him;  but  when 
the  name  struck  his  ear,  he  shrunk  back  and  involuntarily  ex- 
claimed, "it's  a  lie — it's  an  infamous  lie!  Who  dares  to  say  he 
was  murdered?  He  went  overboard  two  days  ago?  But  don't 
let  him  come  on  board:  for  God's  sake  keep  him  down,  or  he'll 
take  us  all  with  him  to  the  bottom.  Will  nobody  keep  him  down? 
Will  nobody  shove  him  off?  Helm  a-lee  !"  he  bawled  out,  waving 
to  the  steersman;  but  the  man  had  deserted  his  post,  eager  to 
see  what  was  going  on;  he,  therefore,  ran  to  the  wheel  himself, 
nd  again  issued  his  commands,  "  Let  go  the  main  top-sail  weath- 
er braces,  and  bring  round  the  yard!  Let  them  go,  I  say!" 
His  orders  were  speedily  executed.  The  vessel  gathered  way, 
and  we  quickly  shot  past  the  body  of  the  old  man. 

For  several  days  after  this,  we  pursued  our  course  with  a  fa- 
vorable wind,  which  drove  us  swiftly  forward  on  our  voyage. 
The  Captain  now  kept  himself  constantly  intoxicated,  seldom 
made  his  appearance  in  the  cabin,  but  left  us  altogether  to  the 
care  of  the  steward.  All  subordination  was  now  at  an  end — his 
whole  time  was  spent  among  the  seamen,  with  whom  he  mixed 
familiarly,  and  was  addressed  by  them  without  the  slightest  portion 
of  that  respect  or  deference  commonly  paid  to  the  Captain  of  the 
vessel.  The  appearance  of  the  men,  also,  was  much  altered. 
From  the  careless  mirth  and  gaiety  and  the  characteristic  good 
humor  of  sailors,  there  was  now  a  sullenness  and  gloom  only  vis- 
ible. A  constant  whispering — a  constant  caballing  was  going  on 
— a  perpetual  discussion,  as  if  some  design  of  moment  was  in 
agitation,  or  some  step  of  deep  importance  was  about  to  be  taken. 
All  sociality  and  confidence  towards  each  other  were  banished 
In  place  of  conversing  together  in  a  body,  as  formerly,  they  now 
walked  about  in  detached  parties,  and  among  them  the  boatswain 
and  carpenter  seemed  to  take  an  active  lead.  Yet,  in  the  midst 
of  all  this  disorder,  a  few  of  our  own  crew  kept  themselves  sepa- 
rate, taking  no  share  in  the  general  consultation;  but  from  the 
anxiety  expressed  in  their  countenances,  as  well  as  in  that  of  the 
mate,  I  foresaw  some  storm  was  brooding,  and  about  to  burst  on 
our  heads. 


94  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

Since  Montaldo's  death,  Isabella  had  been  in  the  habit  of  leav- 
ing her  cabin  after  sun-set,  to  enjoy  the  coolness  of  the  evening 
breeze;  and  in  this  she  was  sometimes  joined  by  the  priest,  but 
more  frequently  was  only  attended  by  her  slave.  One  evening 
she  came  up  as  usual,  and  after  walking  back  and  forward  on 
deck  till  the  dews  began  to  fall,  she  turned  to  go  below:  but  ju.st 
as  we  approached  the  companion-way,  one  of  the  negroes,  who 
now,  in  the  absence  of  all  discipline,  lounged  about  the  quarter- 
deck without  rebuke,  shut  down  the  head,  and  throwing  himself 
on  it,  declared  that  none  should  make  him  rise  without  the  reward 
of  a  kiss.  This  piece  of  insolence  was  received  with  an  encour- 
aging laugh  by  his  fellows,  and  several  slang  expressions  of  wit 
were  uttered,  which  were  loudly  applauded  by  those  around. 
Without  a  word  of  remonstrance,  Isabella  timidly  stooped,  and 
would  have  attempted  getting  down  the  ladder  without  disturbing 
the  slave;  wrhen,  burning  with  indignation,  I  siezed  the  rascal  by 
the  collar,  and  pitched  him  head  foremast  along  the  deck.  In 
an  instant  he  got  on  his  legs,  and  pulling  a  long  clasp-knife  out 
of  his  pocket,  with  a  loud  imprecation  he  made  towards  me.  All 
the  other  negroes  likewise  made  a  motion  to  assist  him,  and  I 
expected  to  be  assailed  on  all  hands,  when  the  mate  interfered, 
and  laying  hold  of  the  marlin-spike,  which  I  had  caught  up  to» 
defend  myself,  pushed  me  back,  as  he  whispered,  "Are  you  mad, 
that  you  interfere?  For  heaven's  sake,  keep  quiet,  for  I  have  no 
authority  over  the  crew  now!"  And  he  spoke  the  truth;  for  the 
negro,  brandishing  his  knife,  and  supported  by  his  comrades,  was 
again  advancing,  when  the  hoarse  voice  of  the  boatswain,  as  he 
ran  to  the  scene  of  action,  arrested  his  progress. 

"  Hallo!  you  there,  what's  the  squall  for?  Avast,  avast,  Mingo! 
off  hands  is  fair  play — ship  that  blade  of  yours,  or  I'll  send  rny  fist 
through  your  ribs,  and  make  day-light  shine  through  them  in  a 
minute."  I  related  the  behavior  of  the  .negro,  and  was  request- 
ing him  to  order  the  slaves  forward,  when  I  was  cut  shorCwith — 
"  There  are  no  slaves  here,  young  man!  we  are  all  alike  free  in  a 

British  ship.     But  damn  his  eyes  for  an  insolent  son  of  a ; 

he  pretend  to  kiss  the  pretty  girl!  I'll  let  him  know  she  belongs  to 
his  betters!  The  black  wench  is  good  enough  for  him  any  day. 
Come,  my  dear!"  he  continued,  turning  to  Isabella,  "give  me  the 
same  hire,  and  I'll  undertake  to  clear  the  way  for  you  myself." 
He  made  as  if'  he  meant  to  approach  her,  when,  careless  of  what 
the  consequences  might  be  to  myself,  1  hastily  stepped  forward, 
and  lifting  tip  the  head  of  the  companion,  Isabella  in  an  instant 
darted  below.  "  This  lady  is  no  fit  subject  either  for  wit  or  inso- 
lence,"said  I,  shutting  the  doors,  "and  he  is  less  than  man  who 
would  insult  an  unprotected  female."  For  a  little  while  he  stood 
eyeing  me  as  if  hesitating  whether  he  would  resent  my  interfer- 
ence, or  remain  passive;  at  length  he  turned  slowly  and  dogged 
ly  away  as  he  uttered — "  you  rufile  big,  and  crow  with  a  brisk  note, 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE.  95 

my  lad!  But  I've  seen  me  do  as  wonderful  a  thing  as  twist  your 
windpipe  and  send  you  over  the  side  to  cool  yourself  a  bit;  and  so 
J  would  serve  you  in  the  turning  of  a  wave,  if  it  wasn't  that  we 
may  have  use  for  you  yet!  I  see  in  what  quarter  the  wind  sets; 
!>;;•  mind  your  eye!  for  sink  me  if  I  dont  keep  a  sharp  look  out 
ahead  over  you." 

1  now  saw  that  things  had  come  to  a  crisis — that  the  crew 
meant  to  turn  pirates;  and  I  was  to  be  detained  among  them  for 
the  sake  of  my  professional  services.  I  could  not,  without  a  shud- 
der, reflect  on  what  must  be  the  fate  of  Isabella  among  such  a  gang 
of  reckless  villains:  but  I  firmly  resolved  that,  come  what  might, 
luy  protection  and  care  over  her  should  cease  but  with  my  life. 

To  be  prepared  for  the  worst,  I  immediately  went  below,  load- 
ed my  pistols,  and  concealed  them  in  my  breast,  securing  at  the 
same  time  all  my  money  and  papers  about  my  person.  While 
thus  employed,  one  of  the  cabin-boys  came  down  for  a  spy-glass, 
saying  that  a  sail  had  hove  in  sight  to  windward.  Upon  this  I  fol- 
lowed him  up,  and  found  the  crew  collected  together  in  clamor- 
ous consultation  as  to  the  course  they  should  follow.  Some  were 
for  king  to  till  she  came  down,  and  taking  her,  if  a  merchantman; 
and  if  not,  they  could  easily  sheer  off — but  this  motion  was  over- 
ruled by  the  majority,  who  judged  it  best  to  keep  clear  for  fear 
of  accidents:  accordingly  all  the  spare  canvas  was  set,  and  we  were 
soon  gaining  large  before  the  wind.  But  the  Dart,  though  reckon- 
ed the  first  sailor  out  of  Clyde  when  close  hauled  on  a  wind,  was 
by  no  means  so  fleet  when  squared  away  and  going  free:  she  had 
now  met  with  her  match,  for  the  stranger  was  evidently  gaining 
rapidly  on  us,  and  in  two  hours  we  saw  it  was  impossible  for  us 
to  escape.  The  priest  and  I  were  ordered  down  with  a  threat  of 
instant  death  if  we  offered  to  come  on  deck,  or  make  any  attempt 
to  attract  observation. 

I  now  communicated  to  Isabella  my  apprehensions  with  respect 
to  the  crew,  along  with  my  resolution  to  leave  the  vessel  if  the 
other  proved  a  man-of-war,  and  earnestly  advised  both  her  and 
the  priest  to  take  advantage  of  it  also.  She  thanked  me  with  a 
look  and  smile  that  told  me  how  sensible  she  was  of  the  interest 
I  felt  in  her  welfare,  and  expressed  her  willingness  to  be  guided 
by  me  whatever  way  I  thought  best. 

Shortly  after  this  we  heard  a  gun  fired  to  bring  us  to,  and  the 
Dart  hailed  and  questioned  as  to  her  port  and  destination.  The 
answers,  it.appeared,  were  thought  evasive  and  unsatisfactory,  for 
we  were  ordered  to  come  close  under  the  lee-quarter  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's sloop  of  war  Tartar,  while  they  sent  to  examine  our  papers. 
This  was  now  our  only  chance,  and  I  resolved,  that  if  the  officer 
should  not  come  below,  I  would  force  the  companion-door  and 
claim  his  protection.  But  I  was  not  put  to  this  alternative.  As 
soon  as  he  arrived,  I  heard  him  desire  the  hatches  to  be  taken  off, 
and  order  his  men  to  examine  the  hold.  The  inspection  did  not 


96  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

satisfy  him;  for  he  hailed  the  sloop,  and  reported  that  there  w^re 
Spanish  goods  on  board  which  did  not  appear  in  the  manifest: — - 
"  Then  remain  on  board,  and  keep  your  stern  lights  burning  all 
night,  and  take  charge  of  the  ship!"  was  the  reply.  In  a  state  of 
irksome  suspense  we  remained  nearly  two  hours,  expecting  every 
minute  to  hear  the  officer  descending.  At  length,  to  our  relief, 
the  companion-doors  were  unlocked,  and  a  young  man,  attended  by 
otir  captain,  entered  th<*  cabin.  He  looked  surprised  on  seeing 
us,  and  bowing  to  Isabella,  apologized  for  intruding  at  such  an 
unseasonable  hour.  "  But  I  was  not  given  to  understand,"  he  ad- 
ded, "that  there  were  passengers  in  the  ship — prisoners  I  should 
rather  pronounce  it,  Mr  Mahone,  for  you  seem  to  have  had  them 
under  lock  and  key,  which  is  rather  an  unusual  mode  of  treating 
ladies  at  least.  No  wine,  sir!"  he  continued,  motioning  away  the 
bottles  which  the  Captain  was  hastily  placing  on  the  table—"  no 
wine,  but  be  pleased  to  show  me  your  register  and  bill  of  lading." 

He  had  nt>t  been  long  seated  to  inspect  them  when  a  shuffling 
and  hurried  sound  of  feet  was  heard  overhead,  arid  a  voice  calling 
on  Mr.  Duff  for  assistance,  showed  that  some  scuffle  had  taken 
place  above.  Instantaneously  we  all  started  to  our  feet,  and  the 
lieutenant  was  in  the  act  of  drawing  his  sword,  when,  accidentally 
looking  round,  I  observed  Mahone  presenting  a  pistol  behind. 
With  a  cry  of  warning,  I  threw  myself  forward,  and  had  just  time 
to  strike  the  weapon  slightly  aside,  when  it  went  off.  The  ball 
narrowly  missed  the  head  of  Duff,  for  whom  it  had  been  aimed, 
but  struck  the  priest  immediately  over  the  right  eye,  who,  making 
one  desperate  and  convulsive  leap  as  high  as  the  ceiling,  sunk 
down  dead,  and  before  the  Captain  could  pull  out  another,  I 
discharged  the  contents  of  mine  into  his  breast.  We  then  rushed 
upon  deck;  but  it  was  only  to  find  the  boat's  crew  had  been  mas- 
tered, and  to  behold  the  last  of  the  men  tumbled  overboard.  The 
pirates  then  dispersed,  and  exerted  themselves  to  get  the  ship 
speedily  under-way;  w^ile  the  boatswain  sang  out  to  extinguish 
the  lanterns,  that  the  Tartar  might  not  be  guided  by  the  lights. 

"It's  all  over  with  us!"  exclaimed  my  companion;  "but  follow 
me — we  have  one  chance  for  our  lives  yet.  Our  boat  is  still  tow- 
ing astern;  do  you  throw  yourself  over,  and  swim  till  I  slide  down 
the  painter,  and  cut  her  adrift.  Come,  bear  a  hand,  and  jump! 
don't  you  see  them  hastening  aft?"  And  in  an  instant  he  pitched 
himself  off  the  taffrel,  slid  down  the  rope  which  held  the  boat,  and 
cast  her  loose.  But  this  advice  however  judicious,  it  was  impos- 
sible for  me  to  follow — for,  at  the  moment,  repeated  shrieks  from 
Isabella  put  to  flight  all  thoughts  for  my  own  individual  safety;  I, 
therefore,  hurried  back  to  the  cabin,  determined,  that  if  I  could 
not  rescue  her  along  with  myself,  to  remain,  and  protect  her  with 
my  life.  And  in  a  happy  time  I  arrived!  The  candles  were 
still  burning  on  the  table;  and  through  the  smoke  of  the  pistols, 
which  still  filled  the  cabin,  I  beheld  her  struggling  in  the  arms  of 


THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE.  97 

a  negro — the  identical  slave  who  had  displayed  such  insolence  in 
the  early  part  of  the  evening.  With  one  stroke  of  the  butend  of 
mv  pistol  I  fractured  the  cursed  villain's  scull — caught  up  Isabella 
in  mv  arms — ran  up  the  ladder,  and  had  nearly  gained  the  side, 
when  the  boatswain,  attracted  bv  her  white  garments,  left  the 
helm  to  intercept  me — and  I  saw  the  gleam  of  his  uplifted  cutlass 
on  the  point  of  descendingt  when  he  was  suddenly  struck  down 
by  some  person  from  behind.  I  did  not  stop  to  discover  who  had 
done  me  this  good  office,  but  hailing  Duff,  and  clasping  Isabella 
firmly  to  my  heart,  I  plunged  into  the  water,  followed  by  my  un- 
known ally.  With  the  aid  of  my  companion,  whom  I  now  found 
to  be  John  Wyllie,  the  mate,  we  easily  managed  to  support  our 
charge  till  the  boat  reached  us;  when  we  found  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  men  had  been  rescued  in  a  similar  manner. 

When  the  morning  dawned,  we  perceived  the  Dart,  like  a  speck 
in  the  horizon,  and  the  sloop  of  war  in  close  chase.  Our  atten- 
tion was  next  turned  to  our  own  situation,  which  was«by  no  means 
enviable:  we  had  escaped,  it  is  true,  with  our  lives,  for  the  present; 
but  without  a  morsel  of  food,  or  a  single  drop  of  fresh  water,  with 
us  in  the  boat;  we  could,  at  best,  only  expect  to  protract  existence 
for  a  few  days  longer,  and  then  yield  it  up  ultimately  in  horror 
and  misery.  By  an  observation  taken  the  day  before,  on  board  of 
the  Tartar,  Mr.  Duff  informed  us  we  were  to  the  north-east  of  the 
Bahamas;  and  distant  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles  from 
Walling's  Island,  which  was  the  nearest  land.  This  was  a  long 
distance;  but,  as  despair  never  enters  the  breast  of  a  British 
sailor,  even  in  situations  of  the  utmost  extremity,  we  cheered  up 
each  other;  and,  as  no  other  resource  was  left  us,  we  manned  our 
oars,  and  pulled  away  with  life,  trusting  in  the  chance  of  meeting 
with  some  vessel,  of  which  there  was  a  strong  probability,  as  this 
was  the  common  course  of  the  leeward  traders.  And  our  hopes 
were  not  disappointed!  for  next  day  we  fortunately  fell  in  with  a 
brig  from  the  Azores,  bound  for  Porto  Rico,  on  board  of  which  we 
were  received  with  much  kindness;  and,  in  five  days,  we  found 
ourselves  safe  moored  in  Porto-real  harbor. 

My  first  step  on  landing  was  to  inquire  for  a  boarding-house  for 
Isabella,  and  I  had  the  good  luck  to  be  directed  to  one  kept  by  a 
respectable  Scotch  family,  in  Orange  Terrace,  and  to  this  I  con- 
ducted her.  My  next  transaction  was  to  charter  a  small  cutter; 
and  to  communicate  to  Duff  the  secret  of  the  hidden  treasure;  at 
the  same  time  asking  him  to-adventure  himself  and  his  men  on  its 
recovery.  I  also  gave  him  to  understand  the  probability  of  a 
renconter  with  the  pirates,  in  the  event  of  their  having  escaped 
the  sloop,  for  I  was  aware  that  Mahone  had  overheard  the  whole 
confession,  from  my  finding  him  listening  at  the  cabin  door. 
Without  hesitation,  the  lieutenant  at  once  agreed  to  accompany 
me,  and  engaging  some  hands  out  of  a  vessel  newly  arrived,  we 
soon  mustered  a  party  of  fourteen  men.  As  it  wanted  only  six 

9 


98  THE  PIRATE'S  TREASURE. 

days  of  the  festival  of  St.  Jago,  and  the  distance  across  the  Carib- 
bean sea  was  great  enough  to  require  all  our  exertions  to  be  there 
in  time,  we  embarked  and  sailed  that  very  night. 

Our  cutter  proved  a  prime  sailer — and  though  the  winds  were 
light  and  variable,  by  the  help  of  our  sweeps  we  made  the  Roccas 
on  the  evening  of  the  sixth  day.  As  the  Spaniard  had  foretold, 
the  moon  was  climbing  the  western  sky,  and  pouring  the  fulness 
of  her  splendor  with  a  mild  and  beautiful  effulgence  on  the  un- 
troubled deep,  as  we  slowly  drifted  with  the  current  between  the 
Wolf-rock  and  the  adjacent  isle.  All  was  silent  and  calm  over  the 
whole  desert  of  the  Archipelago  and  the  vast  surrounding  waters, 
save  now  and  then  the  sudden  flight  of  a  sea-fowl  awakening 
from  its  slumbers  as  we  passed;  or  the  occasional  roar  of  the 
jaguar  faintly  wafted  from  the  main  land.  We  ran  the  cutter  into 
a  deep  and  narrow  creek;  moored  her  safe,  and  proceeded,  well 
armed,  to  the  eastern  extremity.  There  we  found  the  projecting 
point  of  land-  and  the  old  vanilla  tree  exactly  in  the  situation  des- 
cribed— its  huge,  twisted  trunk  was  still  entire;  and  from  the  end 
of  its  solitary  branch,  which  was  graced  by  a  few  scattered  leaves, 
the  body  of  a  man  in  the  garb  of  a  sailor  hung  suspended  in  irons. 
The  clothes  had  preserved  the  body  from  the  birds  of  prey,  but  the 
head  was  picked  clean  and  bare,  leaving  the  eyeless  and  bleached 
skull  to  glitter  white  in  the  moonlight.  In  perfect  silence,  and 
with  something  of  awe  in  our  spirits  impressed  by  the  solitude,  and 
dreariness  of  the  scene,  we  seated  ourselves  on  the  rocks,  and, 
with  my  timepiece  in  my  hand,  I  began  to  mark  the  progress  of 
the  shadow.  For  nearly  three  hours  we  watched  in  this  manner, 
listening  attentively  for  the  slightest  sound  from  sea-ward;  but 
every  thing  continued  hushed  and  still,  except  the  creaking  of  the 
chain  as  the  dead  man  swang  to  and  fro  in  the  breeze.  Midnight 
was  now  drawing  near — the  rnoon,  radiant  and  full,  was  careering 
high  through  the  deep  blue  of  heaven,  and  the  shadows  of  the 
branch  and  stem  were  approaching  each  other,  and  towards  the 
desired  point.  At  length  the  hand  of  my  timepiece  pointed  to 
within  one  minute  of  the  time.  It  passed  over.  The  branch  and 
stem  now  merged  into  one,  and  threw  their  shadow  due  east;  arid 
the  first  spade-full  of  earth  had  been  thrown  out,  when  the  man 
who  had  been  stationed  to  keep  a  look  out  came  running  to  inform 
us  that  a-  boat  was  rapidly  approaching  from  the  east.  We  im- 
mediately concluded  that  they  must  be  a  part  of  the  Dart's  crew; 
and  their  long  and  vigorous  strokes,  as  they  stretched  out  to  the 
full  extent  of  their  oars,  showed  that  they  knew  the  importance  of 
( -very  minute  that  elapsed.  Our  implements  for  digging  were 
hastily  laid  aside,  and  we  concealed  ourselves  among  the  rocks 
till  they  should  come  within  reach.  In  a  short  time  the  boat  was 
seen  ashore,  and  eight  armed  men  came  forward,  partly  Spaniards 
and  partly  the  ship's  crew;  among  whom  I  recognised  the  boat- 
swain, and,  to  my  surprise,  Mahone,  whom  I  had  shot  and  left  for 


99 

dead  in  the  cabin.  Without  giving  them  time  to  prepare  for  the 
assault,  we  quitted  our  shelter,  and  sprung  among  them  at  once, 
laying  about  with  our  cutlasses. 


For  a  little  space  the  skirmish  was  toughly  and  hotly  contested ; 
for  the  pirates  were  resolute  and  reckless,  and  fought  with  the 
desperation  of  men  who  knew  that  the  only  chance  for  their  lives 
lav  in  their  own  exertions.  In  the  confusion  of  the  fray  I  had 
lost  sight  of  Duff,  and  was  closely  engaged  with  one  of  the  Span- 
iards, when  the  voice  of  the  boatswain  shouting  forth  a  horrible 
imprecation  sounded  immediately  behind  me.  I  turned  round, 
and  sprung  aside  from  the  sweep  of  his  cutlass,  and,  as  my  pistols 
were  both  empty,  retreated,  acting  on  the  defensive;  when  he 
pulled  out  his,  fired,  and  hurled  the  weapon  at  my  head.  The  shot 
passed  without  injuring  me — but  the  pistol,  aimed  with  better  ef-* 
feet,  struck  me  full  in  the  forehead.  A  thousand  sparks  of  light 
flashed  from  my  eyes — I  felt  myself  reeling,  and  on  the  point  of 
falling,  when  a  cut  across  the  shoulder  stretched  me  at  once  on  the 
ground.  When  I  recovered  from  my  stupor,  and  opened  my  eyes, 
the  morning  was  far  advanced — the  sun  was  shining  bright  over 
head;  and  I  found  myself  at  sea,  lying  on  the  deck  of  the  cutter; 
and  Duff  busily  engaged  in  examining  my  wounds.  From  him  I 
learned  that  the  pirates  had  been  mastered  after  a  severe  conflict 
— in  which  four  had  been  slain,  and  left  on  the  island;  two  had 
escaped  unobserved  during  the  fight,  and  made  off  with  their  boat; 
and  two  had  been  wounded,  and  were  prisoners  on  board,  one  of 
whom  was  Mahone.  On  our  arrival  at  Porto  Rico,  we  delivered 
them  over  to  the  civil  power;  and,  soon  afterwards,  Mahone  was 


100  MISSIONARIES    IN    GREENLAND. 

tried  for  the  murder  of  the  priest,  when  he  was  convicted  on  our 
evidence,  condemned,  and  executed.  Under  good  nursing,  and 
care,  I  gradually  recovered. 

Isabella  is  not  now  that  destitute  and  unprotected  orphan  whom 
I  first  saw  on  the  middle  of  the  western  ocean — but  the  happy 
mistress  of  a  happy  home,  diffusing  life  and  gladness  on  all  around 
her.  My  friend  Duff  has  lately  been  placed  on  the  list  of  post 
captains,  and  is  anxiously  waiting  for  more  bustling  times,  when 
there  will  be  more  knocking  about,  and  more  hard  blows  got, 
than  what  our  present  peace  establishment  admits  of.  John 
Wyllie,  too,  has  had  advancement  in  his  line,  being  now  master 
of  one  of  the  finest  ships  from  Clyde;  and  I  had  the  additional 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  none  of  the  crew  had  reason  to 
regret  their  having  jeopardized  their  lives  in  fighting  for  the 
"Pirate's  Treasure." 


MISSIONARIES  IN  GREENLAND. 

The  hardships  encountered  by  the  early  missionaries  in  Green- 
land were  many  and  severe.  The  missionary  Rudolph,  in  attempt- 
ing to  return  to  Europe  after  devoting  twenty-six  years  of  his  life 
to  the  cause  of  God  in  Greenland,  experienced  a  very  remarkable 
and  merciful  deliverance.  On  the  18th  of  June,  he  quitted  Lich- 
tenau,  in  company  with  his  wife,  and  in  the  evening  embarked 
on  a  vessel  which  was  lying  off  the  Danish  factory  of  Julianenhaab. 
The  bay  being  nearly  blocked  up  by  drift-ice,  they  were  detained 
here  for  several  weeks;  but,  some  Greenlanders  having  stated  that 
the  sea  was  open  at  a  short  distance,  the  captain  weighed  anchor 
on  the  22d  of  August,  though  the  wind  was  contrary,  and  vast 
bodies  of  ice  were  still  within  sight.  For  some  time  they  advanced 
with  a  roaring  noise  and  a  most  uneasy  motion,  through  immense 
fields  of  ice;  but,  on  the  25th,  a  storm  arose  from  the  south-west, 
which  drove  the  mountains  of  ice  close  upon  the  ship,  and  appeared 
to  menace  immediate  destruction.  The  scene  was  now  truly  tre- 
mendous, and  it  appeared  that  the  vessel,  with  her  sails  closely 
reefed,  and  driving  before  the  wind  must  inevitably  be  dashed  to 
atoms.  At  one  time  she  struck  upon  a  small  rock;  but  was  got 
off  without  receiving  any  particular  damage;  but  soon  afterwards, 
she  struck  with  such  violence  against  an  immense  field  of  ice,  that 
several  planks  started  at  once,  the  water  rushed  in,  and  the  vessel 
filled  so  rapidly  that  the  captain  and  the  sailors  had  scarcely  es- 
caped with  their  boats  to  an  adjacent  field  of  ice,  when  nothing 
more  appeared  above  the  surface  of  the  water  than  the  larboard 
gunwale.  Our  missionary  and  his  wife  were  the  last  who  were 


MISSIONARIES    IN  , 

taken  from  the  wreck;  and,  just  before  they  quitted  it,  they  were 
above  their  knees  in  water,  and  clinging  firmly  to  the  shrouds. 

The  mariners  were  now  anxious  to  make  toward  the  shore,  which 
was  only  about  a  league  distant;  but  the  large  boat  was  so  heavily 
laden,  and  the  wind  was  so  high,  that  it  was  deemed  more  advisable 
to  steer  for  the  nearest  island  they  could  reach.  This  proved  to 
be  a  rough  pointed  rock,  and  destitute  of  vegetation,  except  one 
small  plot  at  a  considerable  height  which  was  covered  with  short 
grass. — Here  they  attempted  to  land  the  provisions  which  had  been 
saved  from  the  wreck;  but  the  waves  beat  with  such  fury  against 
the  rock,  that  the  boats,  with  eight  of  the  sailors  on  board,  were 
driven  to  the  opposite  shore  and  appeared  to  be  crushed  in  pieces. 
"All  our  hopes  of  being  saved,"  says  Mr.  Rudolph,  "  now  van- 
ished; and  the  whole  company  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  loud 
and  general  cries  and  lamentations.  In  the  evening  we  lay  down 
to  rest,  close  to  eacji  other,  without  either  tent  or  covering,  and, 
as  it  continued  to  rain  heavily  during  the  whole  of  the  night,  the 
water  rushed  down  upon  us  in  torrents  from  the  summit  of  the  rock, 
and  \ve  were  completely  soaked  in  wet,  lying  as  it  were,  in  the 
midst  of  a  pool." 

On  the  27th  the  captain  and  most  of  the  sailors  determined  to 
attempt  to  reach  the  shore,  by  walking  across  the  ice;  though,  as 
it  was  frequently  necessary  to  leap  from  one  mass  to  another,  and 
a-fall  into  any  of  the  intermediate  chasms  would  have  been  instant- 
ly fatal,  this  undertaking  was  extremely  dangerous.  Rudolph  and 
the  partner  of  his  affections  would  willingly  have  joined  them,  but 
they  were  too  much  weakened  by  fatigue  and  want  of  food  to  allow 
of  such  an  exertion.  They  were,  therefore,  compelled  to  remain, 
together  with  the  ship's  cook,  who  was  in  the  same  enfeebled  sit- 
uation. The  crew,  however,  promised  that  if  they  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  shore,  a  boat  should  be  sent  to  rescue  them  from 
their  painful  and  perilous  situation. 

Time  now  passed  heavily  indeed,  with  our  missionary  and  his 
companions,  who,  when  the  sun  shone,  employed  themselves  in 
drving  the  few  articles  which  they  had  been  enabled  to  save  from 
the  wreck;  but  they  were,  at  last,  so  enfeebled  by  cold  and  hun- 
ger, that  even  this  little  exertion  proved  too  much  for  their  ex- 
hausted strength.  Day  after  day  they  looked  with  inexpressible 
anxiety  towards  the  land,  with  the  hope  of  discovering  some  Green- 
lander  hastening  to  their  relief. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  as  they  were  lying  down  to  sleep,  the 
wife  of  Rudolph  happened  to  raise  herself,  and  discovered  some 
Greenlanders,  who  had  been  rowing  about  in  their  kajaks  the 
whole  of  the  dav  without  seeing  any  persons  on  the  rock,  and  who 
were  now  proposing  to  return.  From  them  the  sufferers  obtained 
a  few  herrings,  but  were  obliged  to  remain  on  the  rock  another 
niirht,  as  the  Greenlanders  had  no  boat  for  their  accommodation. 
The  following  evening  however,  they  were  safely  conveyed  to  the 

9* 


PGLPHINS    AND    PLYING    FISH 

colony  of  Julianenhaaf,  where  they  learned  that  the  whole  ship's 
company,  with  the  exception  of  one  man,  had  been  providentially 
preserved;  and  on  the  llth  they  proceeded  to  the  settlement  at 
Lichtenau,  where  their  miraculous  deliverance  afforded  inexpres- 
sible pleasure  to  their  fellow  laborers  and  to  the  whole  congrega- 
tion.— Here  they  passed  the  winter;  and  in  the  course  of  the 
following  year  they  removed  to  Lichtenfels,  whence  they  sailed 
in  one  of  the  Danish  vessels,  to  Copenhagen. 


DOLPHINS  AND  FLYING  FISH. 

Perhaps  there  is  not  any  more  characteristic  evidence  of  our 
being  within  the  tropical  regions, — one,  I  mean,  which  strikes  the 
imagination  more  forcibly, — than  the  company  of  those  pictur- 
esque little  animals,  the  flying-fish.  It  is  true,  that  a  stray  one 
or  two  may  sometimes  be  seen  far  north,  making  a  few  short  skips 
out  of  the  water;  and  I  even  remember  seeing  several  close  to 
the  edge  of  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  in  latitude  45°.  These, 
however,  had  been  swept  out  of  their  natural  position  by  the  huge 
gulf-stream,  an  ocean  in  itself,  which  retains  much  of  its  tempera- 
ture far  into  the  northern  regions,  and  possibly  helps  to  modify 
the  climate  over  the  Atlantic.  But  it  is  not  until  the  voyager  has 
fairly  reached  the  heart  of  the  torrid  zone  that  he  sees  the  flying- 
fish  in  perfection.  No  familiarity  with  the  sight  can  ever  render 
us  indifferent  to  the  graceful  flight  of  these  most  interesting  of  all 
the  finny,  orr  rather,  winged  tribe.  On  the  contrary,  like  a  bright 
day,  or  a  smiling  countenance,  or  good  company  of  any  kind,  the 
more  we  see  of  them,  the  more  we  learn  to  value  their  presence. 
I  have,  indeed,  hardly  ever  observed  a  person  so  dull,  or  unimag- 
inative, that  his  eye  did  not  glisten  as  he  watched  a  shoal,  or,  it 
may  well  be  called,  a  covey  of  flying-fish  rise  from  the  sea,  and 
skim  along  for  several  hundred  yards.  There  is  something  in  it 
so  very  peculiar,  so  totally  dissimilar  to  every  thing  else  in  other 
parts  of  the  world,  that  our  wonder  goes  on  increasing  every  time 
we  see  even  a  single  one  take  its  flight.  The  incredulity,  indeed, 
of  the  old  Scotch  wife  on  this  head  is  sufficiently  excusable. 
"You  may  hae^  seen  rivers  o'  milk,  and  mountains  o' sugar," 
said  she  to  her  son,  returned  from  a  voyage;  "  but  you'll  ne'er 
gar  me  believe  you  hae  seen  a  fish  that  could  flee!" 

We  were  once  stealing  along  under  the  genial  influence  of  a 
light  breeze,  which  was  as  yet  confined  to  the  upper  sails,  and 
every  one  was  looking  open-mouthed  to  the  eastward  to  catch  a 
gulp  of  cool  air,  when  about  a  dozen  flying-fish  rose  out  of  the 


DOLPHINS    AND    FLYING    FISH.  103 

water,  just  under  the  fore-chains,  and  skimmed  away  to  windward 
at  the  height  of  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  surface. 

A  large  dolphin,  which  had  been  keeping  company  with  us 
abreast  of  the  weather  gangway,  at  the  depth  of  two  or  three  fath- 
oms, and,  as  usual,  glistening  most  beautifully  in  the  sun,  no 
sooner  detected  them  take  wing,  than  he  turned  his  head  towards 
them,  and,  darting  to  the  surface,  leaped  from  the  water  with  a 
velocity  little  short,  as  it  seemed,  of  a  cannon  ball.  But  although 
the  impetus  with  which  he  shot  himself  into  the  air  gave  him  an 
initial  velocity  greatly  exceeding  that  of  the  flying-fish,  the  start 
which  his  fated  prey  had  got,  enabled  them  to  keep  ahead  of  him 
for  a  considerable  time.  The  length  of  the  dolphin's  first  spring 
could  not  be  less  than  ten  yards;  and  after  he  fell,  we  could  see 
him  gliding  like  lightning  through  the  water  for  a  moment,  when 
he  again  rose  and  shot  forwards  with  considerably  greater  velocity 
than  at  first,  and,  of  course,  to  a  still  greater  distance.  In  this 
manner  the  merciless  pursuer  seemed  to  stride  along  the  sea  with 
fearful  rapidity,  while  his  brilliant  coat  sparkled  and  flashed  in  the 
sun  quite  splendidly.  As  he  fell  headlong  on  the  water  at  the  end 
of  each  huge  leap,  a  series  of  circles  were  sent  far  over  the  still 
surface,  which  lay  as  smooth  as  a  mirror;  for  the  breeze,  although 
enough  to  set  the  royals  and  top-gallant  studding  sails  asleep, 
was  hardly  as  yet  felt  below.  The  group  of  wretched  flying-fish, 
thus  hotly  pursued,  at  length  dropped  into  the  sea;  but  we  were 
rejoiced  to  observe  that  they  merely  touched  the  top  of  the  swell, 
and  scarcely  sunk  in  it, — at  least  they  instantly  set  off  again  in  a 
fresh  and  even  more  vigorous  flight.  It  was  particularly  interest- 
ing to  observe  that  the  direction  they  now  took  was  quite  different 
from  the  one  in  which  they  had  set  out,  implying  but  too  obviously 
that  they  had  detected  their  fierce  enemy,  who  was  following  them 
with  giant  steps  along  the  waves,  and  now  gaining  rapidly  upon 
them.  His  terrific  pace,  indeed,  was  two  or  three  times  as  swift 
as  theirs — poor  little  tilings!  and  whenever  they  varied  their  flight 
in  the  smallest  degree,  he  lost  not  the  tenth  part  of  a  second  in 
shaping  a  new  course,  so  as  to  cut  off  the  chase,  while  they,  in  a 
manner  really  not  unlike  that  of  the  hare,  doubled  more  than  once 
upon  their  pursuer.  But  it  was  soon  too  plainly  to  be  seen  that 
their  strength  and  confidence  were  fast  ebbing.  Their  flights 
became  shorter  and  shorter,  and  their  course  more  fluttering  and 
uncertain,  while  the  enormous  leaps  of  the  dolphin  appeared  to 
grow  only  more  vigorous  at  each  bound.  Eventually,  indeed,  we 
could  see,  or  fancied  we  could  see,  that  this  skilful  sea-sportsman 
arranged  all  his  springs  with  such  an  assurance  of  success,  that 
he  contrived  to  fall,  at  the  end  of  each,  just  under  the  very  spot 
on  which  the  exhausted  flying-fish  were  about  to  drop!  Sometimes 
this  catastrophe  took  place  at  too  great  a  distance  for  us  to  see 
from  the  deck  exactly  what  happened;  but  on  our  mounting  high 
into  the  rigging,  we  may  be  said  to  have  been  in  at  the  death;  for 


104  THE    DYING    DOLPHIN. 

then  we  could  discover  that  the  unfortunate  little  creatures,  one 
after  another,  either  popped  right  into  the  dolphin's  jaws  as  they 
lighted  on  the  water,  or  were  snapped  up  instantly  afterwards. 
It  was  impossible  not  to  take  an  active  part  with  our  pretty  little 
friends  of  the  weaker  side,  and  accordingly  we  very  speedily  had 
our  revenge.  The  middies  and  the  sailors,  delighted  with. the 
chance,  rigged  out  a  dozen  or  twenty  lines  from  the  jib-boom-end 
and  spritsail  yard-arms,  with  hooks  baited  merely  with  bits  of  tin, 
the  glitter  of  which  resembled  so  much  that  of  the  body  and 
wings  of  the  flying  fish,  that  many  a  proud  dolphin,  making  sure 
of  a  delicious  morsel,  leaped  in  rapture  at  the  deceitful  prize,  and 
in  his  turn  became  the  prey  of  a  successful  enemy. 


THE  DYING  DOLPHIN. 

The  truth  and  beauty  of  the  following  description  of  a  dying  Dolphin,  by 
Falconer,  will  be  attested  by  those  of  our  readers  who  may  have  witnessed  a 
similar  scene. 

And  now,  approaching  near  the  lofty  stern, 

A  shoal  of  sportive  dolphins  they  discern. 

From  burnish'd  scales  they  beam  refulgent  rays, 

Till  all  the  glowing  ocean  seems  to  blaze. 

Soon  to  the  sport  of  death  the  crew  repair, 

Dart  the  long  lance,  or  spread  the  baited  snare. 

One,  in  redoubling  mazes,  wheels  along, 

And  glides,  unhappy!  near  the  triple  prong. 

RODMOND  unerring  o'er  his  head  suspends 

The  barbed  steel,  and  every  turn  attends. 

Unerring  aim'd,  the  missile  weapon  flew, 

And,  plunging,  struck  the  fated  victim  through  : 

Th'  upturning  points  his  ponderous  bulk  sustain; 

On  deck  he  struggles  with  convulsive  pain — 

But  while  his  heart  the  fatal  javelin  thrills, 

And  flitting  life  escapes  in  sanguine  rills, 

What  radiant  changes  strike  th'  astonish  'd  sight 

What  glowing  hues  of  mingled  shade  and  light ! 

Not  equal  beauties  gild  the  lucid  west, 

With  parting  beams  all  o'er  profusely  drest. 

Not  lovelier  colors  paint  the  vernal  dawn, 

When  orient  dews  impearl  th'  enamel'd  lawn, 

Than  from  his  sides  in  bright  suffusion  flow, 

That  now  with  gold  imperial  seem  to  glow : 

Now  in  pellucid  sapphires  meet  the  view, 

And  emulate  the  soft  celestial  hue  : 

Now  beam  a  flaming  crimson  on  the  eye ; 

And  now  assume  the  purple's  deeper  dye. 

But  here  description  clouds  each  shining  ray. 

What  terms  of  art  can  nature's  powers  display  ? 


FAMINE    ON    BOARD    THE    LE    JACQUES.  105 


HENRY  HUDSON. 

The  distinguished  English  naval  discoverer,  Henry  Hudson 
sailed  from  London  in  the  year  1607,  in  a  small  vessel,  for  the 
purpose  of  discovering  a  north-east  passage  to  China  and  Japan, 
Avith  a  crew  of  only  ten  men  and  a  boy  besides  himself,  and,  pro- 
ceeding beyond  the  80th  degree  of  latitude,  returned  to  England 
in  September.  In  a  second  voyage,  the  next  year,  he  landed  at 
Nova  Zembla,  but  could  proceed  no  farther  eastward.  In  1609, 
he  undertook  a  third  voyage,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Dutch 
East  India  Company.  Being  unsuccessful  in  his  attempt  to  find 
a  north-east  passage,  he  sailed  for  Davis's  straits,  but  struck  the 
continent  of  America  in  44°  N.  lat.,  and  holding  a  southerly 
course,  discovered  the  mouth  of  the  river  Hudson,  which  he  as- 
cended about  fifty  leagues  in  a  boat.  His  last  voyage  was  un- 
dertaken in  1610.  He  sailed,  April  17th,  in  a  bark  named  the 
Discovery,  with  a  crew  of  twenty-three  men,  and  came  within 
sight  of  Greenland,  June  4th.  Proceeding  westward  he  reached, 
in  latitude  60°,  the  strait  ^bearing  his  name.  Through  this  he 
advanced  along  the  coast  of  Labrador,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  Nova  Brittannia,  until  it  issued  into  the  vast  bay,  which  is  also 
called  after  him.  He  resolved  to  winter  in  the  most  southern 
part  of  it,  and  the  crew  drew  up  the  ship  in  a  small  creek,  and 
endeavored  to  sustain  the  severity  of  that  dismal  climate,  in  which 
attempt  they  endured  severe  privations.  Hudson,  however,  fitted 
up  his  shallop  for  farther  discoveries;  but,  not  being  able  to  es- 
tablish any  communication  with  the  natives,  or  to  revictual  his 
ship,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  he  distributed  his  little  remaining 
bread  to  his  men,  and  prepared  to  return.  Having  a  dissatisfied 
and  mutinous  crew,  he  imprudently  uttered  some  threats  of  setting 
some  of  them  on  shore;  upon  which  a  body  of  them  entered  his 
cabin  at  night,  tied  his  arms  behind  him,  and  put  him  in  his  own 
shallop,  at  the  west  end  of  the  straits,  with  his  son,  John  Hudson, 
and  seven  of  the  most  infirm  of  the  crew.  They  were  then 
turned  adrift,  and  were  never  more  heard  of.  A  small  part  of  the 
crew,  after  enduring  incredible  hardships,  arrived  at  Plymouth, 
in  September,  1611. 


FAMINE   ON   BOARD  THE   FRENCH   SHIP 
LE  JACQUES. 

Of  all  the  disasters  to  which  mariners  are  subject,  the  want  of 
provisions  is  doubtless  one  of  the  most  dreadful.     In  the  history 


106  FAMINE  ON  BOARD  THE  LE  JACQUES. 

of  the  return  of  the  French  ship  Le  Jacques  from  Brazil  to  France, 
Jean  de  Lery  gives  an  account  of  an  extraordinary  famine  on 
board  that  vessel,  attended  with  the  most  appalling  circumstances. 

This  ship,  called  St.  Le  Jacques,  having  completed  her  cargo 
of  dying-wood,  pepper,  cotton,  monkeys,  parrots,  &c.  at  Brazil, 
weighed  anchor  on  the  fourth  of  January,  1558.  The  whole 
crew,  seamen  and  passengers,  consisted  of  forty-five  men,  exclu- 
sive of  the  captain.  They  had  sailed  seven  or  eight  days,  when 
a  leak  in  the  hold  was  discovered,  which  induced  live  of  the  pas- 
sengers to  return  in  a  bark  offered  them  by  the  captain,  in  pre- 
ference to  continuing  on  the  course  to  France. 

We  shall  give  in  Lery's  own  words,  the  narrative  of  the  re- 
maining part  of  the  voyage. 

"  On  the  third  of  February  we  found,  that,  in  seven  weeks,  we 
had  not  made  more  than  one  third  of  our  way.  As  our  provisions 
diminished  very  fast,  it  was  proposed  to  bear  away  for  Cape  St. 
Roch,  where  some  old  seamen  assured  us  that  we  should  be  able 
to  procure  refreshment^.  But  the  majority  advised  that  we  should 
eat  the  parrots  and  other  birds,  of  which  we  had  brought  away 
great  numbers;  and  their  opinion  prevailed. 

"  Our  misfortunes  began  with  a  quarrel  between  the  mate  and 
the  pilot;  who,  to  aggravate  each  other,  then  went  so  far  as  to 
neglect  their  duty.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of  March,  the  pilot  being 
at  the  helm,  in  his  turn,  for  three  hours  he  kept  all  the  sails  set, 
when  a  violent  squall  assailed  the  vessel  with  such  force  that  she 
was  completely  thrown  on  one  side,  so  that  the  tops  of  the  masts 
were  immersed  in  the  water.  The  cables,  the  hen-coops,  and  all 
the  boxes  which  were  not  lashed  fast,  were  swept  overboard,  and 
the  vessel  was  on  the  point  of  upsetting.  The  rigging,  however, 
being  instantly  cut  away  she  righted  again  by  degrees.  The 
danger,  though  extreme,  tended  so  little  to  produce  a  reconcilia- 
tion between  the  two  enemies,  that  the  moment  it  was  past,  they 
attacked  each  other  and  fought  with  the  most  savage  ferocity, 
notwithstanding  all  the  endeavors  that  were  made  to  pacify  them. 

"  This  was  only  the  beginning  of  a  horrid  series  of  calamities. 
A  few  days  afterwards,  in  a  calm  sea,  the  carpenter,  and  other 
artisans,  in  the  attempt  to  relieve  those  who  were  laboring  at  the 
pumps,  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  remove,  among  others,  a  large 
piece  of  wood  in  the  ship's  hold;  upon  which  the  water  rushed  in 
with  such  impetuosity,  that  the  affrighted  workmen  hurried  breath- 
less upon  deck,  unable  to  give  an  account  of  the  danger.  At 
length  they  cried,  in  a  lamentable  voice:  '  We  are  lost!  We  are 
lost!'  Upon  this  the  captain,  master,  and  pilot,  not  doubting  of  the 
magnitude  of  the  danger,  and  determined  instantly  to  put  the  ship 
about,  ordered  a  great  quantity  of  Brazil  wood  and  other  articles 
to  be  thrown  overboard,  and  concluding  to  abandon  the  vessel, 
they  first  provided  for  their  own  safety.  The  pilot  fearing  lest 
the  boat  should  be  overloaded  by  the  numbers  who  demanded  a 


IAMINE  ON  BOARD  THE  LE  JACQUES. 


107 


place  in  her,  took  his  station,  with  a  cutlass  in  his  hand,  and  de- 
clared he  would  despatch  the  first  who  should  endeavor  to  enter. 
Seeing  ourselves  thus  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  sea,  we  who  re- 
mained fell  to  work  with  all  our  strength,  to  pump  out  the  water, 
and  if  possible  to  keep  the  ship  from  sinking.  We  had  the  satis- 
faction to  rind  that  the  water  did  not  gain  upon  us. 

"  But  the  most  happy  consequence  of  our  resolution  was,  that 
it  caused  us  to  hear  the  voice  of  our  carpenter,  who,  though  small 
in  stature,  was  a  young  man  of  great  spirit,  and  had  not,  like  the 
others,  quitted  the  ship's  hold.  On  the  contrary,  taking  off  his 
jacket  he  spread  it  over  the  largest  leak,  and  stood  upon  it  with 
both  feet  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  water,  the  violence  of 
which*  -as  he  afterwards  informed  us,  lifted  him  up  several  times. 
In  this  situation  he  shouted  with  all  his  might,  desiring  us  to  bring 
him  clothes,  cotton,  and  other  things,  to  stop  the  leak,  till  he 
should  be  able  to  do  it  more  effectually.  I  need  not  say  that  this 
demand  was  instantly  complied  with,  and  thus  we  were  preserved 
from  this  danger. 

"  We  continued  steering,  sometimes  to  the  east  and  sometimes 
to  the  west,  which  was  not  our  way;  for  our  pilot,  who  did  not 
perfectly  understand  his  business,  was  no  longer  able  to  observe 
his  route.  In  this  uncertainty  we  proceeded  till  we  came  to  the 
tropic  of  Cancer,  where  we  sailed  a  fortnight  on  a  sea  covered 
with  grass  and  marine  plants.  These  were  so  thick  and  close 
that  we  were  obliged  to  open  a  passage  through  them  for  the  ship. 
Here  we  were  near  perishing  by  another  accident.  Our  gunner 
being  employed  in  drying  some  powder  in  an  iron  pot,  left  it  so 
long  upon  the  fire  that  the  powder  exploded,  and  the  fire  spread 
so  rapidly  from  one  end  of  the  ship  to  the  other  that  the  sails  and 
rigging  were  instantly  in  flames. 

"  They  had  nearly  communicated  to  the  wood,  which  being 
covered  with  pitch,  would  soon  have  taken  fire,  and  have  burned 
us  alive  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean.  Four  men  were  much  injured 
by  the  fire,  and  one  of  them  died  a  few  days  afterwards.  I  should 
have  experienced  the  same  fate  had  I  not  covered  my  face  with 
my  hat,  which  defended  me  from  its  effects;  so  that  I  escaped 
with  only  the  tips  of  my  ears  and  my  hair  scorched." 

This  misfortune  Lcry  reckons  only  among  those  which  he  calls 
the  prelude. 

"It  was  now,  (he  continues)  the  fifteenth  of  April,  and  we  had 
still  a  run  of  five  hundred  leagues  before  us.  Our  provisions  fell 
so  short,  that  notwithstanding  the  retrenchment  we  had  already 
made,  it  was  resolved  that  we  should  be  confined  to  only  half  6"f 
this  reduced  allowance.  This  measure,  however,  did  not  prevent 
our  provisions  from  being  exhausted  by  the  end  of  the  month. 
Our  misfortune  was  occasioned  by  the  ignorance  of  the  pilot,  who 
imagined  that  we  were  near  Cape  Finisterre,  in  Spain,  while  we 
were  in  the  latitude  of  the  Azores,  at  least  three  hundred  leagues 


108  FAMINE    OJS    BOARD    THE    LE    JACQUES. 

distant  from  it.  This  cruel  error  suddenly  reduced  us  to  the  last 
resource,  which  was,  to  sweep  the  storeroom  where  the  biscuit 
was  kept.  These  sweepings  were  distributed  by  spoonfuls,  and 
made  a  soup  as  black  and  more  bitter  than  soot.  Those  who  had 
any  parrots  left  (for  most  had  eaten  their's  long  before  this  time,) 
resorted  to  this  kind  of  food,  at  the  beginning  of  May,  when  the 
ordinary  provisions  failed.  Two  seamen,  who  died  of  hunger, 
were  thrown  overboard;  and  to  prove  the  miserable  state  to  which 
we  were  reduced,  one  of  our  sailors,  called  Nargue,  standing 
reclined  against  the  main-mast,  after  swallowing  their  eyes,  which 
he  could  not  digest,  I  reproached  him  for  not  assisting  the  others 
to  set  the  sails;  the  poor  man,  in  a  low  and  lamentable  voice,  re- 
plied: '  alas,  I  cannot,'  and  instantly  dropped  down  dead. 

"The  horrors  of  this  situation  were  augmented  by  the  rough- 
ness of  the  sea,  so  that,  either  from  want  of  skill,  or  strength  to 
manage  the  sails,  they  were  obliged  to  reef  the  sails,  and  even  to 
lash  the  rudder  fast.  Thus  the  vessel  was  left  to  the  mercy  of 
the  wind  and  waves.  The  unfavorable  weather  likewise  deprived 
them  of  the  only  hope  they  had  left,  that  of  taking  some  fish. 

"  Thus  (continues  Lery,)  all  on  board  were  reduced  to  the 
lowest  degree  of  weakness  and  debility.  Necessity  obliged  us  to 
consider  and  contrive  in  what  manner  to  appease  our  hunger. 
Some  cut  in  pieces  the  skins  of  an  animal  called  Tapirous  sou, 
and  boiled  them  in  water,  but  this  method  was  not  approved  of. 
Others  laid  them  on  the  coals,  and  when  they  were  a  little  broil- 
ed, scraped  them  with  a  knife  and  eat  them:  this  expedient  prov- 
ed so  successful  that  we  imagined  it  to  be  broiled  sward  of  bacon. 
After  this  experiment,  those  who  had  any  of  these  skins,  preserved 
them  with  the  greatest  care;  and  being  as  hard  as  dried  ox-hide, 
they  required  to  be  cut  with  hatchets,  and  other  iron  instruments. 
Some  even  eat  their  leather  stocks,  and  their  shoes.  The  cabin- 
boys,  pressed  with  hunger,  devoured  all  the  horn  of  the  lanterns, 
and  as  many  candles  as  they  could  get  at.  But  notwithstanding 
our  feebleness  and  hunger,  we  were  obliged,  for  fear  of  founder- 
ing, to  stick  to  the  pumps  night  and  day. 

"  About  the  twelfth  of  May  our  gunner,  whom  I  had  seen  eat- 
ing the  intestines  of  a  parrot  quite  raw,  died  of  hunger.  We  were 
not  much  affected  by  this  circumstance,  for  we  were  so  far  from 
thinking  of  defending  ourselves,  if  we  were  attacked,  that  we 
rather  wished  to  be  taken  by  some_pirate  who  would  have  given 
us  something  to  eat.  But  we  saw,  on  our  return,  only  a  single 
vessel,  which  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  approach. 

"  After  devouring  all  the  leather^n  board,  even  to  the  coverings 
of  the  boxes,  we  imagined  that  our  last  moments  were  at  hand. 
Necessity,  however,  inspired  some  one  with  the  idea  of  catching 
the  rats  and  mice,  and  we  hoped  to  be  able  to  take  them  the  more 
easily  as  they  no  longer  had  any  crumbs  to  subsist  on,  and  ran 
about  the  ship  in  great  numbers,  dying  with  hunger.  They  were 


FAMINE  ON  BOARD  THE  LE  JACQUES.  109 

pursued  with  such  assiduity,  and  so  many  kinds  of  snares  were 
laid  tor  them,  that  very  few  were  left.  Even  at  night  the  men 
watched  for  them  like  cats.  A  rat  was  of  greater  importance 
than  a  bullock  on  shore,  and  the  common  price  of  one  was  four 
crowns.  They  were  boiled  in  water,  with  all  their  intestines, 
which  were  eaten  with  the  rest  of  the  body.  Neither  the  paws, 
nor  any  of  the  bones  that  could  possibly  be  made  soft,  were  thrown 
away. 

"  Our  water  likewise  failed;  we  had  nothing  left  to  drink  but  a 
small  barrel  of  cider,  of  which  the  captain  and  officers  were  ex- 
tremely sparing.  Whenever  it  rained,  cloths  were  spread,  with 
a  bullet  in  the  middle,  to  catch  the  water.  They  even  caught 
that  which  ran  off  through  the  drains  of  the  ship,  though  more 
muddy  than  the  water  in  the  kennels. 

"  We  were  at  last  reduced  to  such  extremity  that  we  had  noth- 
ing left  but  Brazil  wood;  which,  though  more  dry  than  any  other, 
many,  however,  in  their  despair,  gnawed  between  their  teeth. 
Our  leader,  Corguilleray  Dupont,  one  day  holding  a  piece  in  his 
mouth,  said  to  me  with  a  profound  sigh:  Alas!  my  friend  Lery! 
the  sum  of  four  thousand  francs  is  owing  me  in  France,  to  which 
I  would  gladly  resign  my  claim  for  a  halfpenny  roll  and  a  single 
glass  of  wine. 

"  At  length  the  Almighty,  taking  compassion  on  so  many  mise- 
rable wretches,  extended  almost  motionless  upon  the  deck,  brought 
us  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  May,  1558,  within  sight  of  the  coast 
of  Bretagne.  We  had  been  deceived  so  often  by  the  pilot  that 
we  durst  scarcely  give  credit  to  the  first  cries  announcing  this 
happy  intelligence.  We  were,  however,  soon  convinced,  that 
we  were  within  view  of  our  native  land.  After  returning  thanks 
to  heaven,  the  master  of  the  ship  publicly  declared,  that,  had  our 
situation  continued  but  another  day,  he  had  taken  the  resolution, 
not  to  draw  lots  as  has  sometimes  been  done  in  such  cases,  but, 
without  informing  any  person  of  his  design,  to  kill  one  of  us  for 
the  rest  to  subsist  upon. 

"  We  found  that  we  were  very  near  Rochelle,  where  our  sea- 
men had  wished  to  unload  the  ship  and  dispose  of  their  Brazil 
wood.  The  master,  after  coming  to  an  anchor  two  or  three 
leagues  from  the  shore,  went  in  the  boat,  accompanied  by  Dupont 
and  some  others  to  purchase  provisions  at  Hodierne,  from  which 
we  were  not  far  distant.  Two  of  our  companions  who  were  of 
the  party,  no  sooner  set  their  feet  on  shore,  than,  impelled  by  the 
recollection  of  their  distresses  and  the  fear  of  being  again  involv- 
ed in  them,  they  betook  themselves  to  flight  without  waiting  for 
their  baggage,  at  the  same  time  protesting  they  would  never  re- 
turn to  the  ship.  The  others  immediately  returned  with  all  kinds 
of  provisions  recommending  to  their  famished  comrades  to  use 
them  at  first  with  moderation. 

"  We  were  now  solicitous  only  to  repair  to  Rochelle,  when  a 

10 


110  THE    LAW    OF    ARREST. 

French  vessel  passing  within  hail,  informed  us  that  the  whole 
coast  was  infested  by  pirates.  On  account  of  our  feeble  state 
which  would  have  rendered  it  impossible  for  us  to  make  any  de- 
fence, we  unanimously  agreed  to  follow  the  vessel  from  which 
we  had  received  this  intelligence.  Thus,  without  losing  sight  of 
her  we  came  to  an  anchor  on  the  twenty-sixth  in  the  port  of 
Blavet." 

Many  of  ihe  sailors  on  landing  gorged  themselves  to  such  an 
excess  as  to  produce  sudden  death.  All  the  passengers  survived, 
and  after  some  suffering,  were  restored  to  health  by  adhering  to 
a  temperate  and  regular  course  of  diet. 


THE  LAW  OF  ARREST. 

A    TALE    FROM    FACTS. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  lived  at  Hamburgh,  a  certain  merchant 
of  the  name  of  Meyer.  He  was  a  good  little  man:  charitable  to 
the  poor,  hospitable  to  his  friends,  and  so  rich  that  he  was  ex- 
tremely respected,  in  spite  of  his  good  nature.  Among  that  part 
of  his  property  vested  in  other  people's  hands,  and  called  debts, 
was  the  sum  of  £500,  owed  him  by  the  captain  of  an  English 
vessel.  This  debt  had  been  so  long  contracted,  that  the  worthy 
Meyer  began  to  wish  for  ta  new  investment  of  his  property.  He 
accordingly  resolved  to  take  a  trip  to  Portsmouth,  in  which  town 
Captain  Jones  was  then  residing,  and  take  that  liberty  which,  in 
my  opinion,  should  never  be  permitted  in  a  free  country,  viz:  that 
of  applying  for  his  money. 

Our  worthy  merchant  one  bright  morning  found  himself  at 
Portsmouth.  He  was  a  stranger  to  that  town,  but  not  wholly 
unacquainted  with  the  English  language.  He  lost  no  time  in 
calling  on  Captain  Jones. 

"  And  vat,"  said  he  to  a  man  whom  he  asked  to  show  him  to  the 
Captain's  house,  "vat  is  dat  fine  veshell  yondare." 

"  She  is  the  Royal  Sally,"  replied  the  man,  "bound  for  Calcutta 
— sails  to-morrow:  but  here  's  Capt.  Jones's  house,  sir,  and  he'll 
tell  you  all  about  it." 

The  merchant  bowed,  and  knocked  at  the  door^f  a  red  brick 
house — green  door  with  a  brass  knocker.  Capt.  Gregory  Jones 
was  a  tall  man.  He  wore  a  blue  coat  without  skirts.  He  had 
high  cheek  bones,  small  eyes,  and  his  whole  appearance  was 
eloquent  of  what  is  generally  termed  the  bluff  honesty  of  the  sea- 
man. 

Captain  Gregory  seemed  somewhat  disconcerted  at  seeing  his 


THE    LAW    OF    ARREST.  Ill 

friend.  He  begged  for  a  little  further  time.  The  merchant  looked 
grave — three  years  had  already  elapsed.  The  captain  demurred 
— the  merchant  pressed — the  captain  blustered — and  the  merchant 
growing  angry,  began  to  threaten.  Suddenly  Captain  Jones's 
manner  changed — he  seemed  to  recollect  himself,  and  begged 
pardon — said  he  could  easily  procure  the  money,  desired  the  mer- 
chant to  go  back  to  his  inn,  and  promised  to  call  on  him  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  Mynheer  Meyer  went  home,  and  ordered  an 
excellent  dinner.  Time  passed,  and  his  friend  came  not.  Meyer 
grew  impatient.  He  had  just  put  on  his  hat,  and  was  walking  out, 
when  the  waiter  threw  open  the  door  and  announced  two  gentle- 
men. 

"'  Ah,  dere  comes  de  monish,"  thought  Mynheer  Meyer.  The 
gentleman  approached — the  taller  one  whiped  out  what  seemed  to 
Meyer  a  receipt.  "Ah,  ver  well — I  will  sign — ver  well." 

"Signing,  sir,  is  useless — you  will  be  kind  enough  to  accom- 
pany us.  This  is  a  warrant  for  debt,  sir.  My  house  is  extremely- 
comfortable — gentlemen  of  the  first  fashion  go  there — quite  mod- 
erate, too,  only  a  guinea  a  day — find  your  own  wine." 

"I  do — no — understand,  sare,"  said  the  merchant,  smiling 
amiably.  "  I  am  ver  veil  off  here,  thank  you." 

"  Come,  come,"  said  the  other  gentleman,  speaking  for  the  first 
time,  "  no  parlavoo  Monsoo,  you  are  our  prisoner — this  is  a  war- 
rant for  the  sum  of  £10,030,  due  to  Capt.  Gregory  Jones." 

The  merchant  stared — the  merchant  frowned — but  so  it  was. 
Captain  Gregory  Jones,  who  owed  Mynheer  Meyer  £  500,  had 
arrested  Mynheer  Meyer  for  £10,000;  for,  as  every  one  knows, 
any  man  may  arrest  us,  who  has  conscience  enough  to  swear  that 
we  owe  him  money.  Where  was  Mynheer  Meyer  in  a  strange 
town  to  procure  bail?  Mynheer  Meyer  went  to  prison. 

"  Dis  be  a  strange  vay  of  paying  a  man  his  monish!"  said 
Mynheer  Meyer. 

In  order  to  while  away  the  time,  our  merchant,  who  was  won- 
derfully social,  scraped  an  acquaintance  with  some  of  his  fellow 
prisoners.  "  Vat  you  be  in  prison  for?"  said  he  to  a  stout,  res- 
pectable looking  man,  who  seemed  to  be  in  a  violent  passion — 
"  for  vat  crime?" 

"I,  sir — crime!"  quoth  the  prisoner;  "Sir,  I  was  going  to 
Liverpool  to  vote  at  the  election,  when  a  friend  of  the  opposing 
candidate  had  me  arrested  for  £2000;  before  I  can  get  bail  the 
election  will  be  over." 

"  Vat's  that  you  tell  me?  Arrest  you  to  prevent  your  giving 
an  honest  vote?  Is  that  justice?" 

"  Justice,  no  !"  cried   our  friend,  "  it's  the  Law  of  Arrest." 

"  And  vat  be  you  in  prishon  for?"  said  the  merchant  pityingly, 
to  a  thin,  cadaverous  looking  object,  who  ever  and  anon  applied  a 
handkerchief  to  eyes  that  were  worn  with  weeping. 

"  An  attorney  offered  a  friend  of  mine  to  discount  a  bill,  if  he 


112  THE    LAW    OF    ARREST. 

could  obtain  a  few  names  to  endorse  it.  I,  sir,  endorsed  it.  The 
bill  became  due — the  next  day  the  attorney  arrested  all  whose 
names  were  on  the  bill,  eight  in  number.  The  law  allows  him  to 
charge  two  guineas  each — there  are  sixteen  guineas  for  the  lawyer 
— but  I,  sir,  alas!  my  family  will  starve  before  I  shall  be  released. 
Sir,  there  are  a  set  of  men  called  discounting  attorneys,  who  live 
upon  the  profits  of  entrapping  and  arresting  us  poor  folks." 

"  Mine  Got!  but  is  dat  justice?" 

"  Alas!  no,    sir;  it  is  the  Law  of  Arrest." 

"  But,"  said  the  merchant  turning  round  to  a  lawyer,  whom  the 
Devil  had  deserted,  and  who  was  now  with  the  victims  of  his 
profession,  "  dey  tell  me  dat  in  Englant  a  man  be  called  innoshent 
till  he  be  proved  guilty;  but  here  am  I,  who,  because  von  carrion 
of  a  shailor,  who  owesh  me  five  hundred  pounts^  takes  an  oath 
that  I  owe  him  ten  thousand — here  am  I,  on  that  schoundrel's 
single  oath,  clapped  up  in  a  prishon.  Is  this  a  man's  being  in- 
noshent till  he  is  proved  guilty,  sare?" 

"  Sir,"  said  the  lawyer  primly,  "  you  are  thinking  of  criminal 
cases.  But  if  a  man  be  unfortunate  enough  to  get  into  debt  that 
is  quite  a  different  thing — we  are  harder  to  poverty  than  we  are  to 
crime." 

"  But,  mine  Got!  is  that  justice?" 

"Justice!  pooh!  it's  the  Law  of  Arrest,"  said  the  lawyer, 
turning  on  his  heel. 

Our  merchant  was  liberated:  no  one  appeared  to  prove  the  debt. 
He  flew  to  a  magistrate — he  told  his  case — he  implored  justice 
against-Capt.  Jones. 

"  Capt.  Jones,"  said  the  magistrate  taking  snuff;  "  Capt  Greg- 
ory Jones,  you  mean!" 

"Ay,  mine  goot  sare — yesh!" 

"  He  set  sail  for  Calcutta  yesterday.  He  commands  the  Roy- 
al Sally.  He  must  evidently  have  sworn  this  debt  against  you  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  your  claim,  and  silencing  your  mouth 
till  you  could  catch  him  no  longer.  He's  a  clever  fellow  this 
Gregory  Jones!" 

"  De  teufel!  but,  sare,  ish  dare  no  remedy  for  de  poor  mer- 
chant?" 

"  Remedy!  oh  yes — indictment  for  perjury." 

"  But  vat  use  is  dat?  You  say  he  be  gone — ten  thousand  miles 
off— to  Calcutta!" 

'  That's  certainly  against  your  indictment." 

"And  cannot  I  get  my  monish?" 

"  Not  as  I  see." 

"  An  I  have  been  arreshted  instead  of  him!" 

"You  have." 

"  Sare,  I  have  only  von  vord  to  say — is  dat  justice?" 

'  That  I  can't  say,  Mynheer  Meyer — but  it  is  certainly  the 
Law  of  Arrest,"  answered  the  magistrate — and  he  bowed  the 
merchant  out  of  the  room. 


CAPTAIN    COOK,  110 


A  SEA  SONG. 

A  wet  sheet  and  a  flowing  sea, 

A  wind  that  follows  fast 
And  fills  the  white  and  rustling  sails, 

And  bends  the  gallant  rnast ! 
And  bends  the  gallant  mast,  my  bo}'S, 

While  like  the  eagle  free, 
Away  the  good  ship  flies,  and  leaves 

Columbia  on  the  lea. 

O  for  a  soft  and  gentle  wind  ! 

I  heard  a  fair  one  cry ; 
But  give  to  me   the  swelling  breeze, 

And  white  waves  heaving  high ; 
And  white  waves  heaving  high,  my  lads, 

The  good  ship  tight  and  free  ; 
The  world  of  waters  is  our  home, 

And  merry  men  are  we. 

There  's  tempest  in  yon  horned  moon, 

And  lightning  in  yon  cloud ; 
And  hark,  the  music,  mariners  ! 

The  wind  is  wakening  loud  ; 
The  wind  is  wakening  loud,  my  boys, 

The  lightning  flashes  free ; 
The  hollow  oak  our  palace  is. 

Our  heritage  the  sea. 


CAPTAIN  COOK. 

Mr.  Banks,  a  gentleman  of  considerable  fortune  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  was  induced  to  undertake  this  voyage  from  curiosity, 
and  an  invincible  desire  of  attaining  knowledge.  He  engaged 
his  friend  Dr.  Solander,  a  Swede,  to  accompany  him  in  this  voyage. 
Mr.  Banks  also  took  with  him  two  draftsmen,  and  had  besides 
a  secretary  and  four  servants.  Lieutenant  James  Cook  was  to 
command  the  expedition. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1768,  the  Endeavour  sailed  from  Plym- 
outh; the  islands  of  Puerto  Santo  and  Madeira  were  discovered 
on  the  12th  of  September,  and  the  next  day  they  anchored  in 
Fonchial  Road.  The  Endeavour  sailed  thence  on  the  19th.  On 
the  22d,  they  saw  the  Islands  of  Salvages,  northward  of  the  Ca- 
naries. The  23d  saw  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe,  bearing  west  by 
south.  This  mountain  is  near  15,400  feet  high.  On  the  29th 
perceive-d  Bona  Vista,  one  of  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands.  On 
the  13th  of  November  made  sail  for  the  harbor  of  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

10* 


Ii4  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

Captain  Cook  went  on  shore  on  the  14th,  and  obtained  leave  to 
purchase  provisions,  and  having  requested  that  the  gentlemen  on 
board  might  remain  on  shore  whilst  they  sojourned,  and  that  Mr. 
Banks  unight  go  up  the  country  to  collect  plants,  these  requests 
were  peremptorily  refused. 

December  the  8th,  having  procured  all  necessary  supplies, 
they  left  Rio  de  Janeiro.  On  the  the  14th  of  January  entered 
the  Strait  of  Le  Maire;  but  the  tide  being  against  them,  were 
driven  out  with  great  violence;  at  length,  however,  they  got  an- 
chorage at  the  entrance  of  a  little  cove,  which  Captain  Cook  called 
St.  Vincent's  Bay. 

Mr.  Banks  and  Dr.  Solander  set  out  from  the  ship  on  the  16th, 
with  the  design  of  going  into  the  country,  and  returning  in  the 
evening.  Having  entered  a  wood,  they  ascended  the  hill  through 
a  pathless  wilderness  till  the  afternoon.  The  morning  had  been 
very  fine,  but  the  weather  now  became  cold  and  disagreeable;  the 
blasts  of  wind  were  very  piercing,  arid  a  shower  of  snow  fell. 
Mr.  Buchan,  one  of  the  draughtsmen,  fell  into  a  fit.  It  was  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  stop  and  kindle  a  fire,  and  such  as  were  most 
fatigued  remained  to  assist  him;  but  Messrs.  Banks,  Solander, 
Green  and  Monkhouse,  proceeded  and  attained  the  spot  they  had 
in  view.  Upon  returning,  they  found  Mr.  Buchan  much  recov- 
ered. They  had  previously  sent  Mr.  Monkhouse  and  Mr.  Green 
back  to  him  and  the  others,  in  order  to  bring  them  to  a  hill,  which 
was  conjectured  to  lie  in  a  better  track  for  returning  to  the  wood. 
The  whole  party  met  there  at  eight  in  the  evening.  Dr.  Solander 
having  often  passed  mountains  in  cold  countries,  was  sensible  that 
extreme  cold,  when  joined  with  fatigue,  occasions  a  drowsiness, 
that  is  not  easily  resisted;  he  accordingly  entreated  his  friends  to 
keep  in  motion,  however  disagreeable  it  might  be  to  them;  his 
words  were,  "  Whoever  sits  down,  will  sleep;  and  whoever  sleeps, 
will  wake  no  more."  Every  one  seemed  accordingly  armed  with 
resolution;  but  on  a  sudden  the  cold  became  so  very  intense,  as 
to  threaten  the  most  direful  effects.  It  was  very  remarkable  that 
Dr.  Solander  himself,  who  had  so  forcibly  admonished  his  party, 
should  be  the  first  who  insisted  upon  being  suffered  to  repose. 
In  spite  of  the  most  earnest  entreaties,  he  lay  down  amidst  the 
snow,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  they  kept  him  awake.  When 
a  black  servant  was  informed,  that  if  he  remained  there  he  would 
be  frozen  to  death;  he  replied,  that  he  was  so  exhausted  with 
fatigue,  that  death  would  be  a  relief  to  him.  Doctor  Solander 
said  he  was  not  unwilling  to  go,  but  that  he  must  first  take  some 
sleep,  notwithstanding  what  he  had  before  declared  to  the  com- 
pany. Thus  resolved,  they  both  sat  down,  supported  by  bushes, 
and  in  a  short  time  fell  fast  asleep.  Intelligence  now  came  from 
the  advanced  party,  that  a  fire  was  kindled  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  farther  on  the  way.  Mr.  Banks  then  waked  the  doctor,  who 
had  almost  lost  the  use  of  his  limbs  already,  though  it  was  but  a 


CAPTAIN    COOK,  115 

few  minutes  since  he  sat  down.  Every  measure  taken  to  relieve 
the  black  proved  ineffectual;  he  remained  motionless,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  leave  him  to  the  care  of  the  other  black  servant 
and  a  sailor,  who  appeared  to  have  been  the  least  hurt  by  the  cold. 
JMr.  Banks  and  four  others  went  forth  at  twelve  o'clock  and  met 
the  sailor,  with  just  strength  enough  to  walk;  he  was  immediately 
sent  to  the  fire,  and  they  proceeded  to  seek  for  the  two  others. 
They  found  Richmond,  one  black  servant,  upon  his  legs,  but  in- 
capable of  moving  them;  the  other  black  was  lying  senseless  upon 
the  ground.  All  endeavors  to  bring  them  to  the  h're  were  useless, 
nor  was  it  possible  to  kindle  one  upon  the  spot,  on  account  of  the 
snow  that  had  fallen,  and  was  still  falling,  so  that  there  was  no 
alternative,  but  to  leave  the  two  unfortunate  negroes  to  their  fate, 
making  them  a  bed  of  boughs  of  trees,  and  covering  them  very 
thick  with  the  same.  On  the  17th  in  the  morning,  at  day-break, 
nothing  'presented  itself  but  snow.  However,  about  six  in  the 
morning  they  were  flattered  with  a  dawn  of  hope  of  being  deliv- 
ered, by  discovering  the  sun  through  the  clouds,  which  gradually 
diminished.  Previous  to  setting  out,  messengers  were  despatched 
to  the  unhappy  negroes,  who  returned  with  the  melancholy  news 
of  their  death.  In  about  three  hours,  to  their  great  satisfaction, 
found  themselves  upon  the  shore,  much  nearer  to  the  ship  than 
their  most  sanguine  expectation  could  have  flattered  them. 

January  the  26th,  Captain  Cook  sailed  from  Cape  Horn.  The 
farthest  southern  latitude  he  made  was  60  deg.  10  min.  by  74  deg. 
30  min.  west.  April  the  4th,  a  servant  to  Mr.  Banks  discovered 
land.  Captain  Cook  came  within  a  mile  on  the  north-side,  but 
found  no  bottom  nor  anchorage.  There  appeared  along  the  beach 
some  of  the  inhabitants,  with  pikes  or  poles  in  their  hands,  twice 
the  height  of  themselves.  This  Island  was  in  latitude  18  deg. 
south,  longitude  139  deg.  28  min.  west,  and  was  named  Lagoon 
Island.  They  saw  another  island  in  the  afternoon,  which  was 
named  Thrumb  Cap.  The  5th,  continued  their  course,  and  dis- 
covered Bow  Island. 

From  the  6th  to  the  10th,  they  passed  several  islands,  and  on 
the  13th,  entered  Port  Royal  Harbour,  Otaheite,  anchoring 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  shore.  When  the  ship  was  properly  se- 
cured, the  captain  went  on  shore  with  Mr.  Banks,  Dr.  Solander, 
a  party  under  arms,  and  an  old  Indian.  They  were  received  by 
some  hundreds  of  the  natives,  who  were  struck  with  such  awe, 
that  the  first  who  approached  crept  almost  upon  his  hands  and 
knees.  He  presented  them  branches  of  trees,  the  usual  symptom 
of  peace. 

On  the  15th,  the  captain,  attended  by  Mr.  Banks  and  others, 
went  on  shore  to  fix  on  a  proper  spot  to  erect  a  small  fort  for  their 
defence.  Before  this  party  had  gone  much  further,  they  were 
alarmed  by  the  discharge  of  two  pieces,  fired  by  the  tent-guard. 
Upon  their  return,  it  appeared  that  an  Indian  had  taken  an  op- 


116  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

portunity  to  snatch  away  one  of  the  sentinel's  muskets;  whereupon 
a  young  midshipman,  ordered  the  marines  to  fire,  which  they  did, 
when  several  Indians  were  wounded,  but  as  the  criminal  did  not 
fall,  they  pursued  and  shot  him  dead. 

The  fort  began  to  be  erected  on  the  18th.  Mr.  Banks's  tent 
being  got  up,  he,  for  the  first  time,  slept  on  shore.  On  the  24th, 
Mr.  Banks  and  Dr.  Solander  made  an  excursion  into  the  country. 
On  the  25th,  Mr.  Molineux,  master  of  the  Endeavour,  seeing  a 
woman,  whose  name  was  Oberea,  he  declared  she  was  the  person 
he  judged  to  be  the  queen  of  the  island,  when  he  came  there  in 
the  Dolphin.  She  was  soon  conducted  to  the  ship,  and  went  on 
ooard,  accompanied  by  some  of  her  family.  Many  presents  were 
made  her,  particularly  a  child's  doll,  which  seemed  the  most  to 
engross  her.  attention.  On  the  5th,  Mr.  Banks  and  Dr.  Solander 
set  out  in  the  pinnace  and  soon  reached  Eparre.  Some  Indians 
from  a  neighboring  island,  to  which  Captain  Wallis  gave  the 
name  of  Duke  of  York's  Island,  informed  them  of  more  than  twen- 
ty islands  in  the  neighborhood  of  Otaheite. 

They  now  began  to  make  the  necessary  preparations  for  the 
transit  of  Venus,  and  on  the  first  of  June,  the  next  Saturday, 
being  the  day  of  the  transit,  they  sent  the  long-boat  to  Ermayo, 
having  on  board  Mr.  Gore,  Mr.  Monkhouse,  and  Mr.  Sporing,  a 
friend  of  Mr.  Banks;  each  furnished  with  necessary  instruments. 
They  were  visited  on  the  21st  at  the  fort  by  many  of  the  natives, 
and  among  the  rest  Oamo,  a  chief  of  several  districts  on  the 
island,  who  was  very  inquisitive  with  respect  to  the  English,  and 
by  his  questions  appeared  a  man  of  understanding  and  penetration. 
June  26th,  the  Captain  set  out  in  the  pinnace,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Banks,  to  circumnavigate  the  island.  July  1st,  returned  to  the 
fort  at  Port  Royal  Harbour;  having  discovered  the  island,  both 
peninsulas  included,  to  be  about  one  hundred  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence. They  now  began  to  make  preparations  for  their  departure. 
On  the  10th,  two  marines  being  missing,  an  inquiry  was  made  after 
them,  when  the  Indians  declared  they  did  not  propose  returning, 
having  each  taken  a  wife.  Mr.  Hicks  was  immediately  despatched 
in  the  long-boat,  with  several  men,  for  them,  and  this  party  re- 
covered the  men  without  opposition. 

July  the  13th,  after  leaving  the  island  of  Otaheite,  they  sailed 
with  a  gentle  breeze,  and,  on  the  15th,  discovered  Huaheine. 
They  found  the  people^  here  nearly  similar  to  those  of  Otaheite  in 
almost  every  circumstance.  This  island  is  situated  in  the  latitude 
of  16  deg.  43  min.  south,  longitude  150  deg.  52  min.  west,  distant 
from  Otaheite  about  thirty  leagues,  and  is  about  twenty  miles  in 
circumference.  From  Huaheine  they  sailed  to  Ulieta!  Captain 
Cook  took  possession  of  this  and  the  adjacent  islands  in  the  name 
of  the  king  of  "Great  Britain.  On  the  25th  they  were  within  a 
league  or  two  of  Otaha.  On  the  29th  made  sail  to  the  northward, 
and  at  eight  o'clock  next  morning  were  close  under  the  high 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  117 

craggy  peak  of  Bolabola;  but,  after  giving  the  general  name  of 
the  Society  Islands  to  the  Islandsof  Huaheine,  Uiietea,  Bolabola, 
Otaha,  and  ?>luurua,  which  lie  between  the  latitude  of  16  deg. 
10  inin.  and  16  deg.  do  mm.  south,  they  pursued  their  course. 

The  Endeavour  now  passed  a  small  island,  white  and  high,  and, 
as  it  appeared  quite  barren,  was  named  Bare  Island.  On  the 
17th  Captain  Cook  gave  the  name  of  Cape  Turn- Again  to  a 
head-land,  in  latitude  40  deg.  34  min.  south,  longitude  182  deg 
53  min.  west.  Before  the  Endeavour  touched  at  New  Zealand, 
which  this  was,  it  was  not  certainly  known  whether  it  was  an 
island,  or  part  of  the  c&ntinent.  On  the  20th  anchored  in  a  bay, 
about  two  leagues  north  of  Gable  End  Foreland.  Sailing  to  the 
northward,  they  fell  in  with  a  small  island  named  East  Island. 
In  the  evening  of  the  30th,  Lieutenant  Hicks  discovered  a  bay, 
to  which  his  name  was  given.  On  the  18th,  the  Endeavour  steered 
between  the  main  and  an  island  which  seemed  very  fertile,  and  as 
extensive  as  Uiietea. 

The  26th,  Captain  Cook  continued  his  course  along  shore  to  the 
north.  On  the  29th,  having  weathered  Cape  Bret,  they  bore 
away  to  leeward,  and  got  into  a  large  bay,  where  they  anchored 
on  the  south-west  side  of  several  islands.  On  the  5th  they  weigh- 
ed anchor.  The  Bay  which  they  had  left  was  called  the  Bay  of 
Islands.  On  the  13th  of  March  discovered  a  bay,  which  Captain 
Cook  called  Dusky-bay;  and  it  is  remarkable  for  having  five  high, 
peaked  rocks,  lying  off  it,  which  look  like  the  thumb  and  four 
ringers  of  a  man's  hand;  whence  it  was  denominated  Point  Five 
Fingers.  It  was  now  resolved  to  return  by  the  East  Indies,  and 
with  that  view  to  steer  for  the  east  coast  of  New  Holland,  and 
then  follow  the  direction  of  that  coast  to  the  northward.  They 
sailed  March  31st  and  taking  their  departure  from  an  eastern 
point,  called  it  Cape  Farewell.  The  bay  from  which  they  sailed 
was  named  Admiralty  Bay,  and  the  two  capes  thereof  Cape 
Stephens  and  Cape  Jackson. 

They  sailed  from  Cape  Farewell  on  the  31st  of  March,  1770. 
On  the  19th,  they  discovered  land  four  or  five  leagues  distant. 
The  name  of  Botany  Bay  was  given  to  this  place,  from  the  large 
number  of  plants  collected  by  Messrs.  Banks  and  Solander.  They 
sailed  hence  the  6th  of  May,  1770;  at  noon  were  off  a  harbor 
which  was  called  Port  Jackson.  Coasting  this  shore  till  the  10th 
of  June,  art  accident  had  nearly  terminated  their  voyage  fatally. 
The  ship  struck  on  a  rock  in  the  night,  at  some  distance  from  the 
land,  and  made  so  much  water  as  to  threaten  to  sink  every  mo- 
ment, which  was  only  prevented  by  great  exertions.  After  some 
little  examination,  they  found  a  small  harbor  to  look  at  the  ship's 
bottom,  and  there  found,  that  the  only  thing  which  prevented  her 
from  sinking,  was  a  large  piece  of  a  rock,  broken  off  and  sticking 
in  the  largest  hole,  which  impeded  the  entrance  of  the  water. 
Here  they  procured  some  refreshments,  landed  the  sick  and  stores, 


118  CAPTAIN  COOK. 

made  a  variety  of  excursions  by  land  and  water  to  the  neigboring 
places,  and,  for  the  first  time,  saw  the  animal  now  known  as  the 
Kangaroo. 

They  sailed  hence  on  the  13th  of  August,  1770,  and  got  through 
one  of  the  channels  in  the  reef;  happy  to  be  once  more  in  an 
open  sea,  after  having  been  surrounded  by  dreadful  shoals  and 
rocks  for  near  three  months,  during  all  which  run  they  had  been 
obliged  to  keep  sounding  without  the  intermission  of  a  single 
minute;  a  circumstance  which,  it  is  supposed,  never  happened  to 
any  ship  but  the  Endeavour.  Previous  to  their  leaving,  Captain 
Cook,  took  possession  of  all  the  eastern  coast  of  the  country,  from 
the  38th  degree  of  south  latitude  to  the  present  spot,  by  the  name 
of  New  South  Wales.  They  were  now  at  the  northern  extremity 
of  New  Holland.  The  northeast  entrance  of  the  passage  is  form- 
ed by  the  mainland  of  New  Holland,  and  by  a  number  of  islands, 
which  took  the  name  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Islands. 

They  now  held  a  northward  course,  within  sight  of  land,  till  the 
3d  of  September.  On  the  6th,  passed  two  small  islands,  on  the 
9th,  they  saw  what  had  the  appearance  of  land,  and  the  next 
morning  were  convinced  it  was  Timor  Lavet.  On  the  16th,  they 
had  sight  of  the  little  island  called  Rotte;  and  the  same  day  saw 
the  island  of  Savu,  at  a  distance  to  the  southward  of  Timor.  The 
Endeavour  sailed  the  21st  of  September,  1770,  and  bent  her  course 
westward.  In  the  afternoon  of  this  day  a  little  flat  island  was 
discovered  in  10  deg.  47  min.  south  latitude,  and  238  deg.  28  min. 
west  longitude.  They  made  considerable  way,  till  at  length,  by 
the  assistance  of  the  sea-breezes,  they  came  to  anchor  in  the 
road  ofBatavia.  The  town  of  Batavia  is  situated  in  6  deg.  10 
min.  south  latitude,  and  106  deg.  50  min.  east  longitude.  On  the 
27th  of  December,  1770,  the  Endeavour  left  the  road  ofBatavia, 
and  on  the  5th,  came  to  anchor  near  Prince's  Island.  After  a  pas- 
sage in  which  they  lost  twenty-three  more  officers  and  men,  the 
ship  was  brought  to  anchor  off  the  Cape  of  Good  *Hope,  on  the 
l-"th  of  March,  1771.  Quitting  the  Cape,  they  came  to  anchor 
off  the  island  of  St.  Helena,  on  the  1st  of  May,  from  which  place 
they  sailed  on  the  4th,  and  arrived  in  the  Downs,  on  the  12th  of 
June  following. 


CAPTAIN  COOK'S  SECOND  VOYAGE. 

A  second  voyage  being  resolved  upon,  Captain  Cook  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Resolution,  and  Captain  Furneaux,  to  the  Adventure; 
and  on  the  13th  of  July,  1772,  the  two  ships  sailed  from  Plymouth 
Sound;  and,  on  the  evening  of  the  29th,  anchored  in  Funchial 
Road,  in  the  Island  of  Madeira. 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  119 

On  the  9th  of  August  they  made  the  Island  of  Bonavista,  and 
on  the  ^9th  of  October  the  land  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Th:.:  10th  of  December,  saw  an  island  of  ice  to  the  westward, 
bei>i£  then  in  the  latitude  of  50  deg.  40  min.  south,  and  longitude 
2  deg.  east  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  On  the  9th  of  February, 
found  that  the  Adventure  was  not  within  the  limits  of  their  hori- 
zon. At  ten  o'clock  of  the  25th  of  March,  the  land  of  New 
Zealand  was  seen  from  the  mast-head.  On  Friday,  the  26th, 
came  to  anchor,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  after  having  been  one 
hundred  and  seventeen  days  at  sea,  in  which  time  they  had  sailed 
3660  leagues,  without  having  once  sight  of  land. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  weighed  with  a  light  breeze  at  south- 
east, and  stood  out  to  sea.  After  leaving  Dusky  Bay  they  direct- 
ed their  course  along  shore  for  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound,  where 
they  expected  to  find  the  Adventure.  On  the  18th,  they  appear- 
ed off  the  harbor,  and  discovered  their  consort  the  Adventure, 
by  the  signals  she  made.  On  the  7th  of  June,  weighed  and  put 
to  sea,  with  the  Adventure  in  company,  and  on  the  1 1th  of  Au- 
gust, land  was  seen  to  the  south,  which  upon  a  nearer  approach 
was  found  to  be  an  island  of  about  two  leagues  in  extent.  It  lies 
in  the  latitude  of  17  deg.  24  min.  longitude  141  deg.  39  min.  west; 
and  was  called  Resolution  Island.  Steering  the  same  course, 
they  discovered  several  of  these  low  or  half-drowned  islands,  or 
rather  a  large  coral  shoal  of  about  twenty  leagues  in  circuit, 
which  31.  de  Bourgainville  very  properly  calls  the  cluster  of  low 
overflowed  isles  the  Dangerous  Archipelago.  On  the  15th,  at 
five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  saw  Osnaburgh  Island,  or  Maitea, 
discovered  by  Captain  Wallis.  At  day-break  found  themselves 
not  more  than  halt  a  league  from  the  reef  of  Otaheite. 

Several  of  the  inhabitants  came  off  in  canoes,  most  of  whom 
knew  Captain  Cook  again,  and  many  inquired  for  Mr.  Banks  and 
others  who  were  there  before.  On  the  17th,  they  anchored  in 
Ouiti-piha  Bay,  about  two  cable's  length  from  the  shore.  On  the 
1st  of  September  the  ships  unmoored,  and  made  sale  for  Ulieta. 
Arriving  off  the  harbor  of  Ohamaneno,  at  the  close  of  the  day, 
they  spent  the  night  in  making  short  tacks.  Captain  Furneaux 
agreed  to  receive  on  board  his  ship  a  young  man  named  Omai,  a 
native  of  Ulieta,  where  he  had  some  property,  of  which  he  had 
been  dispossessed  by  the  people  of  Bolabola.  After  leaving  Ulieta, 
they  steered  to  the  west,  inclining  to  the  south,  to  get  clear  of 
the  tracts  of  former  navigators,  and  to  get  into  the  latitude  of  the 
islands  of  Middleburgh  and  Amsterdam.  At  two  o'clock  p.  m. 
on  the  1st  of  October,  made  Middleburgh,  bearing  west-south- 
west; and  then  made  sail  down  to  Amsterdam.  These  islands 
were  first  discovered  by  Captain  Tasman,  in  January,  1642 — 3, 
and  by  him  called  Amsterdam  and  Middleburgh.  But  the  former 
is  called  by  the  natives  Ton-ga-ta-bu,  and  the  latter  Ea-vo-wee. 
Middleburgh  or  Eavowee,  which  is  the  southernmost,  is  about 


120  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

ten  leagues  in  circuit,  and  of  a  height  sufficient  to  be  seen  twelve 
leagues.  The  anchorage,  named  English  Road,  is  on  the  north- 
west side,  in  latitude  21  deg.  20  min.  30  sec.  south.  The  island 
is  shaped  something  like  an  isosceles  triangle,  the  longest  sides 
whereof  are  seven  leagues  each,  and  the  shortest  four. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  made  the  Island  of  Pilstart.  This 
island,  which  was  also  discovered  by  Tasman,  is  situated  in  the 
latitude  of  22  deg.  26  min.  south,  longitude  175  deg.  59  rnin. 
west.  On  the  21st,  made  the  land  of  New  Zealand;  at  noon  Table 
Cape  bore  west,  distant  eight  or  ten  leagues.  On  the  25th,  early 
in  the  morning,  they  weighed,  with  a  small  breeze,  out  of  the  cove. 
On  the  26th,  took  their  departure  from  Cape  Palliser,  and  steered 
to  the  south,  inclining  to  the  east,  having  a  favorable  gale  from 
the  north-west  and  south-west.  At  4  o'clock,  12th  of  Dec.  being  in 
the  latitude  of  62  deg.  10  min.  south,  longitude  172  deg.  west,  saw 
the  first  ice  Island,  11 J  deg.  farther  south  than  the  first  ice  seen 
the  preceding  year,  after  leaving  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

On  the  30th,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  perceived  the 
clouds,  over  the  horizoji  to  the  south,  to  be  of  an  unusual  snow- 
white  brightness,  which  they  knew  announced  their  approach  to 
field-ice.  Being  at  this  time  in  the  latitude  of  71  deg.  10  min. 
south,  longitude  106  deg.  54  min.  west,  they  steered  north  from 
this  time,  and  on  the  1 1th  of  March,  land  was  seen  from  the  mast- 
head, bearing  west.  They  made  no  doubt  that  this  was  Davis's 
Land,  or  Easter  Island.  After  leaving  Easter  Island,  they  steer- 
ed north-west-by-north  and  north-north-west,  with  a  fine  easterly 
gale,  intending  to  touch  at  the  Marquesas.  They  continued  to 
steer  to  the  west  till  the  6th  of  April,  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  at 
which  time,  being  in  the  latitude  of  9  deg.  20  min.  longitude  ,133 
deg.  14  min.  west,  they  discovered  an  Island,  bearing  west  t)y 
south,  distant  about  nine  leagues.  Two  hours  after  saw  another, 
bearing  south-west-by-south,  which  appeared  more  extensive  than 
the  former.  By  this  time,  they  were  well  assured  that  these  were 
the  Marquesas,  discovered -by  Mendana  in  1595. 

The  Marquesas  are  five  in  number,  viz.  La  Magdalena,  St. 
Pedro,  La  Dominica,  Santa  Christina,  and  Hood's  Island,  which 
is  the  northernmost,  situated  in  latitude  9  deg.  26  min.  south,  and 
13  deg.  west,  five  leagues  and  a  half  distant  from  the  east  point 
of  La  Dominica,  which  is  the  largest  of  all  the  isles,  extending 
east  and  west  six  leagues. 

From  the  Marquesas,  Captain  Cook  once  more  steered  his 
course  for  Otaheite;  and  reached  his  former  place  of  anchorage, 
Matavai  Bay, on  the  twenty-second  of  April.  During  their  resi- 
dence here,  on  this  occasion,  the  voyagers  were  entertained  with 
various  exhibitions.  One  of  these  was  a  grand  naval  review. 
The  vessels  of  war  consisted  of  a  hundred  and  sixty  large  double 
canoes,  well  equipped,  manned  and  armed.  They  were  decorated 
with  flags  and  streamers;  and  the  chiefs,  together  with  all  those 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  121 

who  were  on  the  fighting  stages,  were  dressed  in  their  war  habits. 
The  whole  fleet  made  a  noble  appearance;  such  as  our  voyagers 
had  never  seen  before.  Besides  the  vessels  of  war,  there  were 
a  hundred  and  seventy  smaller  double  canoes,  which  seemed  to 
be  designed  for  transports  and  victuallers.  Upon  each  of  these 
was  a  small  house;  and  they  were  each  rigged  with  a  mast  and 
sail,  which  was  not  the  case  with  the  war  canoes.  Captain  Cook 
conjectured  that  there  were  no  fewer  than  seven  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  sixty  men  in  the  whole  fleet.  He  was  not  able  to 
obtain  full  information  concerning  the  design  of  this  armament. 

The  refreshments  that  were  obtained  at  Otaheite  during  this 
visit  were  of  great  importance  to  the  ship's  company,  for  nearly 
all  the  bread  they  had  left  was  decayed  and  scarcely  eatable;  and 
even  of  this,  bad  as  it  was,  the  quantity  was  so  small  that  they 
were  reduced  to  a  very  scanty  allowance. 

After  leaving  Otaheite,  the  voyagers  proceeded  again  to 
Huaheine.  During  Captain  Cook's  stay  at  Huaheine,  bread- 
fruit, Cocoa-nuts,  and  other  vegetable  productions,  were  procured 
in  abundance,  but  not  a  sufficiency  of  hogs  to  supply  the  daily 
consumption  of  the  ship's  company.  At  Ulieta,  to  which  the 
captain  next  directed  his  course,  the  inhabitants  expressed  the 
deepest  concern  at  his  departure,  and  anxiously  importuned  him 
to  return. 

After  passing  several  other  islands,  he  arrived,  on  the  twentieth 
of  June,  at  an  island  which  appeared  to  have  a  numerous  popula- 
tion. The  captain,  with  the  other  gentlemen  went  ashore;  but 
the  natives  were  found  to  be  fierce  and  untractable.  All  en- 
deavors to  bring  them  to  a  parley  were  to  no  purpose.  They 
approached  with  the  ferocity  of  wild  beasts,  and  instantly  threw 
their  darts.  Two  or  three  muskets  discharged  in  the  air  did  not 
prevent  one  of  them  from  advancing  still  further,  and  throwing 
another  dart,  which  passed  close  over  Captain  Cook's  shoulder. 
The  courage  of  this  man  had  nearly  cost  him  his  life.  When  he 
threw  his  dart,  he  was  not  five  paces  from  the  captain,  who  had 
resolved  to  shoot  him  for  his  own  preservation.  It  happened, 
however,  that  his  musket  missed  fire;  a  circumstance  on  which 
he  afterwards  reflected  with  pleasure. 

This  island,  from  the  disposition  and  behavior  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, was  called  by  our  Commander  Savage  Island.  It  is  about 
eleven  leagues  in  circuit; -is  of  a  round  form  and  good  height; 
and  has  deep  waters  close  to  its  shores.  Among  its  other  disad- 
vantages, it  is  not  furnished  with  a  harbor. 

In  pursuing  his  course  toward  the  west-south-west,  Captain 
Cook  passed  a  number  of  small  islands,  and,  on  the  twenty-sixth, 
anchored  on  the  north  side  of  Anamooka,  or  Rotterdam.  Here, 
as  in  many  former  cases,  the  captain  was  put  to  some  trouble,  on 
account  of  the  thievish  disposition  of  the  people.  It  is  one  of  a 
numerous  group  to  which  Captain  Cook  gave  the  name  of  the 


122  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

Friendly  Isles,  in  consequence  of  the  firm  alliance  and  friendship 
which  seemed  to  subsist  among  the  inhabitants,  and  of  their  kind 
and  hospitable  behavior  to  strangers. 

Pursuing  their  course  westward,  the  navigators,  on  the  sixteenth 
of  July,  discovered  land,  which  they  believed  to  be  the  same  that 
M.  de  Bougainville,  the  French  navigator,  had  named  the  Great 
Cyclades.  After  having  explored  the  coast  of  this  island  for  some 
days,  they  came  to  an  anchor,  in  a  harbor  of  the  island  of  Malli- 
colo.  The  inhabitants  of  this  island  were  in  general  the  most 
ugly  and  ill-proportioned  people  that  the  voyagers  had  seen. 
They  were  dark-colored,  somewhat  diminutive  in  stature,  and  had 
long  heads,  flat  faces,  and  countenances  not  much  dissimilar  to 
those  of  apes. 

Proceeding  hence  in  a  south-westerly  direction  the  Resolution 
passed  several  small  islands.  The  harbor  in  one  of  them  called 
Tanna,  in  which  the  ship  was  anchored,  was  only  a  little  creek 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  length,  but  no  place  could  ex- 
ceed it  in  convenience  for  obtaining  both  wood  and  water.  After 
Captain  Cook  had  finished  his  survey  of  the  whole  Archipelago, 
and  had  gained  a  knowledge  of  it  infinitely  superior  to  what  he 
had  attained  before,  he  bestowed  upon  it  the  appellation  of  the 
New  Hebrides. 

Our  voyagers  sailed  on  the  1st  of  September,  and  on  the  4th, 
land  was  discovered;  in  a  harbor  belonging  to  which  the  Resolu- 
tion came  to  anchor  the  next  day.  As  Captain  Cook  was  unable 
to  learn  what  the  Island  was  called  bythe  natives,  he  gave  to  it 
the  name  of  New  Caledonia.  Excepting  New  Zealand,  this  is 
perhaps  the  largest  island  in  the  South  Pacific  Ocean.  The  in- 
habitants were  strong,  robust,  active,  and  well  made;  and  in 
their  dispositions  were  courteous  and  obliging.  They  did  not 
appear  in  the  least  addicted  to  pilfering. 

On  the  13th,  the  Resolution  weighed  anchor,  and  land  was 
discovered,  which  was  named  Norfolk  Isle.  From  this  place  our 
commander  steered  for  New  Zealand,  in  Queen  Charlotte's 
Sound,  where  he  shortly  afterwards  arrived.  Several  days  elapsed 
before  any  of  the  natives  made  their  appearance;  but  when  they 
did  so,  and  recognised  Captain  Cook  and  his  friends,  joy  succeed- 
ed to  fear.  They  hurried  in  numbers  out  of  the  woods,  and  em- 
braced the  English  over  and  over  again,  leaping  and  skipping 
about  like  madmen.  The  whole  intercourse  with  the  New 
Zealanders,  during  this  third  visit,  was  peaceable  and  friendly. 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  voyage,  our  commander,  on  the  17th 
of  December,  reached  the  west  coast  of  Terra  del  Fuego,  and 
came  to  anchor  in  a  place  which  he  called  Christmas  Sound. 
Through  the  whole  course  of  his  various  navigations,  he  had 
never  seen  so  desolate  a  coast.  But  barren  and  dreary  as  the 
land  was,  it  was  not  wholly  destitute  of  accommodations.  The 
country  abounded  with  wild  fowl,  and  particularly  with  geese; 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  123 

which  afforded  a  refreshment  to  the  whole  ship's  crew,  that  was 
the  more  acceptable  on  account  of  the  approaching  festival.  Had 
they  not  thus  been  happily  provided  for,  their  Christmas  cheer 
must  have  been  salt  beef  and  pork.  Some  Madeira  wine,  the 
only  article  of  provision  that  \vas  mended  by  keeping,  was  still 
left.  This,  in  conjunction  with  the  geese,  which  were  cooked  in 
every  variety  of  method,  enabled  the  navigators  to  celebrate 
Christmas  as  cheerfully  as  perhaps  was  done  by  their  friends  in 
England. 

Our  commander  soon  afterwards  proceeded  through  the  Strait  of 
Le  Maire  to  Staten  Island.  About  the  end  of  February  he  cross- 
ed the  line  of  the  route  he  had  taken  when  he  left  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope;  having  now  made  the  circuit  of  the  southern  ocean 
in  a  high  latitude,  and  traversed  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave 
no  room  for  the  possibility  of  their  being  any  continent  in  that  part 
of  the  hemisphere,  unless  near  the  pole,  and  out  of  the  reach  of 
navigation.  By  twice  visiting  the  tropical  sea,  he  had  not  only 
ascertained  the  situation  of  some  old  discoveries,  but  had  made 
many  new  ones;  and,  indeed,  even  in  that  part,  had  left  little 
more  to  be  accomplished.  The  intention  of  the  voyage  had  in 
every  respect  been  answered,  and  the  southern  hemisphere  suffi- 
ciently explored.  A  complete  termination  was  hereby  put  to  the 
searching  after  a  southern  continent. 

The  great  purpose  of  the  navigation  of  Captain  Cook  round 
the  globe  being  thus  completed,  he  at  length  directed  his  views 
towards  England,  and  determined  to  steer  for  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope;  and  on  Wednesday,  the  twenty-second  of  March,  accor- 
ding to  his  reckoning  (who  had  sailed  round  the  world),  but  on 
Tuesday,  the  twenty-first  at  the  Cape,  he  anchored  his  ship  in 
Table  Bay.  During  the  circumnavigation  of  the  globe,  from  the 
period  of  our  commander's  leaving  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  his 
return  to  it  again,  he  had  sailed  no  less  a  distance  than  twenty 
thousand  leagues.  This  was  an  extent  of  voyage  nearly  equal  to 
three  times  the  equatorial  circumference  of  the  earth,  and  such 
as  had  never  been  accomplished  before,  by  any  ship  in  the  same 
compass  of  duration. 

On  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  it  is  not  necessary  to  enlarge. 
The  repairs  of  the  ship  having  been  completed,  and  the  necessary 
stores  carried  on  board,  together  with  afresh  supply  of  provisions 
and  water,  Captain  Cook  left  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  on  the 
27th  of  April,  and  reached  the  island  of  St.  Helena  on  the  15th 
of  May.  Here  he  remained  till  the  21st,  when  he  sailed,  and 
arrived  in  safety  at  Portsmouth,  having  been  absent  from  Eng- 
land three  years,  and  eighteen  days;  in  which  time,  and  under  all 
changes  of  climate,  he  had  lost  but  four  men,  and  only  one  of 
these  by  sickness. 


124  CAPTAIN  COOK. 


CAPTAIN  COOK'S  THIRD  VOYAGE. 

Although  the  Resolution  and  the  Discovery  were  destined  foi 
the  same  service,  they  did  not  leave  England  at  the  same  time 
Captain  Cook,  in  the  former,  sailed  from  Plymouth  on  the 
twelfth  of  July;  and  Captain  Clerke,  in  the  latter,  on  the  1st  of 
August,  1776.  The  two  ships  joined  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
about  the  beginning  of  November.  Here  Captain  Cook  made 
an  addition  to  his  stock  of  animals,  by  the  purchase  of  cattle, 
horses,  sheep,  goats,  rabbits,  and  poultry.  All  these,  as  well  as 
most  of  the  animals  then  on  board  the  vessels,  were  intended  for 
Otaheite,  New  Zealand,  and  other  islands. 

The  ships  sailed  from  the  Cape  about  the  beginning  of  De- 
cember; and  the  navigators,  pursuing  their  course  towards  the 
south-east,  the  weather  soon  became  so  cold  that  several  of  the 
goats  and  some  of  the  sheep  died.  On  the  12th,  two  islands 
were  seen,  the  larger  of  which  appeared  to  be  about  fifteen 
leagues  in  circuit.  As  no  names  had  hitherto  been  assigned  to 
these  islands,  our  commander  called  them  Prince  Edward's 
Islands. 

Though  it  was  now  the  middle  of  summer  in  this  hemisphere, 
the  weather  was  not  less  severe  than  what  is  generally  experi- 
enced in  England  in  the  very  depth  of  winter.  Instead,  however, 
of  being  discouraged  by  this  circumstance,  the  captain  directed 
his  course  still  further  south,  and  on  the  24th,  reached  the  island 
called  Kerguelen's  Land;  and  the  next  day  landed  upon  it.  The 
weather  was  foggy  during  the  whole  time  that  the  ships  contin- 
ued here.  The  island  was  so  excessively  barren,  that  perhaps 
no  place,  hitherto  discovered,  under  the  same  parallel  of  latitude, 
affords  so  scanty  a  field  for  a  natural  historian  as  this.  If  our 
commander  had  not  been  unwilling  to  deprive  M.  de  Kerguelen 
of  the  honor  of  this  island  bearing  his  name,  he  would  have  call- 
ed it  the  island  of  Desolation. 

Captain  Cook  next  directed  his  course  towards  New  Zealand, 
that  he  might  obtain  a  further  supply  of  water,  take  in  wood,  and 
make  hay  for  his  cattle.  Nothing  very  remarkable  occurred  to 
the  voyagers  till  the  24th  of  January,  1777,  when  they  discover- 
ed the  coast  of  Van  Diernan's  Land,  and  in  two  days  after  came 
to  anchor.  One  day  they  were  agreeably  surprised  by  a  visit 
from  some  of  the  natives.  Every  present  which  Captain  Cook 
made  them  they  received  without  the  least  appearance  of  satis- 
faction. During  the  few  days  that  Captain  Cook  continued  here, 
he  neglected  nothing  that  could  promote  the  knowledge  of 
science  or  navigation. 

He  sailed  from  Van  Dieman's  land  on  the  30th  of  January, 
1777,  and  about  a  fortnight  afterwards,  came  to  anchor  at  hig 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  125 

old  station  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound,  in  New  Zealand.  Ope- 
rations for  refitting  the  ships,  and  for  obtaining  provisions,  were 
carried  on  with  great  vigor.  So  healthy  were  the  crews,  that  at 
this  time  there  were  only  two  invalids  upon  the  sick  lists  of  both 
ships.  Captain  Cook,  in  this  his  last  visit  to  New  Zealand, 
gave  to  one  chief  two  goats,  a  male  and  female,  with  a  kid;  and 
to  another  two  pigs,  a  boar  and  a  sow.  It  had  been  his  intention 
to  have  left  other  animals  than  these ;  but  he  was  unable  to  find 
a  chief  who  was  powerful  enough  to  protect  them,  and  he  there- 
fore gave  up  all  thought  of  it. 

On  the  24th  of  February  Captain  Cook  proceeded  on  his 
voyage,  in  a  north-easterly  direction  and,  about  five  weeks  after- 
wards, arrived  at  an  island  situated  in  about  twenty  degrees  of 
south  latitude,  and  called  by  the  natives  Wateeoo.  This  island, 
which  is  about  six  leagues  in  circuit,  is  a  very  beautiful  spot, 
having  a  surface  composed  of  hills  and  plains,  covered  with  a 
verdure  rendered  extremely  pleasant  by  the  diversity  of  its  hues. 
Its  inhabitants  were  very  numerous,  and  many  of  them  were  ele- 
gantly formed.  Their  whole  behavior,  whilst  on  board,  showed 
that  they  were  perfectly  at  ease,  and  that  they  felt  no  apprehen- 
sion, either  that  they  should  be  detained  or  ill  used. 

It  has  been  stated  that  it  was  a  principal  object  of  this  voyage 
to  examine  the  Pacific  Ocean  in  the  high  northern  latitudes. 
But,  hitherto,  the  progress  of  the  vessels  had  been  so  unavoidably 
retarded  by  unfavorable  winds,  and  other  adverse  circumstances, 
that  it  was  become  impossible  for  the  commander,  this  year,  to 
think  of  proceeding  towards  those  latitudes.  The  rainy  season 
soon  afterwards  commenced;  and  the  united  heat  and  moisture 
of  the  weather,  in  addition  to  the  impossibility  of  keeping  the 
ships  dry,  threatened  to  be  very  injurious  to  the  health  of  his 
people.  So  great,  and  so  judicious,  however,  were  the  attentions 
which  he  paid  to  their  health,  that  there  was  not  as  yet  one  sick 
man  on  board  either  ship. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  the  vessels  arrived  at  Anamooka.  A 
friendly  intercourse  was  immediately  opened  with  the  natives. 
The  only  interruption  to  the  friendship  which  had  been  established, 
arose  from  the  thievish  disposition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Anamooka. 
Numerous  opportunities  were  here  afforded,  of  remarking  how 
expert  these  people  were  in  the  business  of  stealing.  Even  some 
of  the  chiefs  did  not  think  the  profession  unbecoming  their  dignity. 
One  of  them  was  detected  in  carrying  a  bolt  out  of  the  ship,  con- 
cealed under  his  clothes.  For  this  offence  Captain  Cook  sen- 
tenced him  to  receive  a  dozen  lashes,  and  kept  him  confined  till 
he  had  paid  a  hog  for  his  liberty;  and  afterwards  the  navigators 
were.no  longer  troubled  with  thieves  of  rank.  Their  servants,  or 
slaves,  however,  were  still  employed;  and  upon  them  a  flogging 
seemed  to  make  no  greater  impression,  than  it  would  have  done 
upon  the  mainmast.  At  length,  Captain  Clerke  invented  a  mode 

11* 


1(26  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

of  treatment,  which  was  thought  to  be  of  good  effect.  He  put 
the  thieves  into  the  hands  of  the  barber,  and  completely  shaved 
their  heads.  In  consequence  of  this  operation,  they  became 
objects  of  ridicule  to  their  own  countrymen;  and  our  people,  by 
immediately  knowing  them,  and  keeping  them  at  a  distance,  were 
enabled  to  deprive  them  of  future  opportunities  for  a  repetition  of 
their  rogueries. 

Captain  Cook  now  proceeded  to  the  Friendly  Islands,  and  was 
received  in  the  most  friendly  manner  imaginable  by  the  inhabitants. 
Besides  the  immediate  benefits  that  were  derived  by  the  ships 
from  the  friendly  intercourse  which  had  been  established,  so  exten- 
sive an  addition  was  now  made  to  the  geographical  knowledge  of 
this  part  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  as  may  render  no  small  service  to 
future  navigators.  From  the  information  which  our  commander 
received,  this  Archipelago  is  very  extensive.  More  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  islands  were  reckoned  by  the  natives,  who  made 
use  of  bits  of  leaves  of  different  size  for  designating  their  number, 
and  their  relative  dimensions. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  our  commander  took  his  final  leave  of  the 
Friendly  Islands;  and  in  about  three  weeks,  he  reached  Otaheite. 
Omai's  first  reception  among  his  countrymen  was  not  entirely  of 
a  flattering  nature.  Captain  Cook  found  that  since  he  was  last  at 
Otaheite,  in  1774,  two  Spanish  vessels  had  been  there,  and  had 
left  some  hogs,  dogs,  goats,  one  bull,  and  a  ram.  The  officers 
and  crews  of  these  vessels  had  behaved  so  well,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants spoke  of  them  in  the  strongest  expressions  of  esteem  and 
veneration.  On  the  present  visit,  the  navigators  had  undeniable 
proof  that  the  offering  of  human  sacrifices  formed  a  part  of  the 
religious  institutions  of  Otaheite. 

One  day  while  the  navigators  were  in  Matavia  Bay,  Captain 
Cook,  and  Captain  Clerke,  mounted  on  horseback,  and  rode  into 
the  country.  The  Otaheitans,  who  had  never  seen  such  animals 
before,  were  utterly  astonished,  and  gazed  upon  the  gentlemen 
with  as  much  amazement,  as  if  they  had  been  Centaurs.  Not 
all  the  novelties,  put  together,  which  European  visitors  had  car- 
ried amongst  them,  inspired  them  with  so  high  an  opinion  of  the 
greatness  of  distant  nations  as  this. 

During  this  visit  to  Otaheite,  so  cordial  a  friendship  and  confi- 
dence were  established  betwixt  the  voyagers  and  the  natives,  that 
it  was  not  once  interrupted  by  any  unpleasant  incident.  From 
Otaheite  Captain  Cook  sailed  on  the  13th  to  the  adjacent  island 
of  Eimeo.  At  this  island  the  transactions  were,  for  the  most  part, 
unpleasant.  On  the  llth  of  October  the  ships  arrived  in  a  harbor 
on  the  west  side  of  the  island  of  Huaheine. 

The  grand  business  of  Captain  Cook  at  Huaheine  was  to  settle 
Omai  there,  on  the  very  spot  from  which  he  had  been  taken. 
On  the  2nd  of  November  1777,  Ornai  took  his  final  leave  of  the 
English  in  a  very  affectionate  manner,  but  at  the  same  time  with 


CAPTAIN    COOK,  127 

manly  resolution;  and  the  vessels  sailed  for  Ulieta,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  following  day.  The  last  of  the  Society  Islands 
which  Captain  Cook  visited  was  Bolabola.  Captain  Cook  con- 
tinued to  the  last  his  zeal  for  furnishing  the  natives  of  the  South 
Sea  with  useful  animals.  The  navigators  finally  departed  from 
the  Society  Islands  on  the  12th  of  December. 

Frequently  as  these  islands  had  been  visited,  it  might  have  been 
imagined  that  their  religious,  political,  and  domestic  regulations, 
manners,  and  customs,  must,  by  this  time,  have  been  thoroughly 
understood.  A  great  accession  of  knowledge  was  undoubtedly 
gained  in  the  present  voyage;  and  yet  it  was  confessed  by  Captain 
Cook,  that  his  account  of  these  was,  in  various  respects,  still 
imperfect;  and  that  he  still  continued  a  stranger  to  many  of  the 
most  important  institutions  which  prevailed  there. 

In  the  night  between  the  22d  and  23d  of  December,  1777, 
the  ships  crossed  the  equator,  in  the  longitude  of  two  hundred  and 
three  degrees  fifteen  minutes  west.  The  navigators  still  proceed- 
ed northward;  and  towards  the  end  of  January,  1778,  they  ap- 
proached a  cluster  of  islands,  which  Captain  Cook  afterwards 
named  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

One  of  the  officers  was  sent  with  the  boat  to  search  for  water 
at  an  island  called  by  the  natives  Atooi..  On  attempting  to  land 
here  the  inhabitants  came  down  in  such  numbers,  and  were  so 
violent  in  their  endeavors  to  seize  the  oars,  muskets,  and,  in  short, 
every  thing  they  could  lay  hold  of,  that  he  was  compelled  to  fire 
upon  them,  and  one  man  was  killed.  The  rapacious  disposition 
they  at  first  displayed,  was  entirely  corrected  by  their  conviction 
that  it  could  not  be  exercised  with  impunity.  During  the  short 
stay  of  the  vessels  at  this  island,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  in- 
habitants were  eaters  of  human  flesh.  It  was,  however,  under- 
stood that  their  enemies  slain  in  battle  were  the  sole  objects  of  so 
abominable  a  custom.  This  people,  when  Captain  Cook  became 
better  acquainted  with  them,  appeared,  in  general,  to  possess  a 
frank  and  cheerful  disposition,  equally  removed  from  the  fickle 
levity  which  distinguishes  the  natives  of  Otaheite,  and  the  sedate 
character  which  is  discernible  among  many  of  those  of  the  other 
islands  of  the  South  Sea. 

Of  the  Archipelago,  which  was  denominated  by  Captain  Cook 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  there  were  five  only  with  which,  at  this 
time,  he  became  acquainted.  Their  names,  as  given  by  the 
natives,  were  Woahoo,  Atooi,  Oneeheow,  Oreehoua,  and  Ta- 
hoora.  Had  the  Sandwich  Islands  been  discovered  by  the  Span- 
iards at  an  early  period,  that  people  would  undoubtedly  have 
taken  advantage  of  so  excellent  a  situation,  and  have  made  use 
of  them  as  refreshing  places  to  their  ships,  which  sail  annually 
from  Acapulco  for  Manilla.  Happy  too  would  it  have  been  for 
Anson,  if  he  had  known  that  there  existed  a  group  of  islands  half 
way  between  America  and  Tinian,  where  all  his  wants  could 


128  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

effectually  have  been  supplied,  and  the  different  hardships  to  which 
he  was  exposed  have  been  avoided. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  the  navigators  pursued  their  course 
northward;  in  doing  which  the  incidents  they  met  with  were  al- 
most entirely  of  a  nautical  kind.  The  coast  of  New  Albion  was 
seen  on  the  7th  .of  March,  the  ships  being  then  in  the  latitude  of 
44  deg.  83  min.  north,  and  in  the  longitude  of  235  deg.  20  min. 
east.  As  the  vessels  ranged  along  the  west  side  of  America, 
Captain  Cook  gave  names  to  several  capes  and  headlands,  which 
appeared  in  sight.  At  length,  on  the  29th,  he  came  to  anchor  in 
a  bay  which  was  called  by  the  natives  Nootka,  and  was  thence 
named  by  Captain  Cook  Nootka  Sound.  Some  of  the  natives 
came  off  to  the  ships  in  canoes,  but  they  could  not  be  prevailed 
with  to  venture  on  board.  Shortly  after  this  a  regular  trade  was 
commenced.  The  articles  which  the  inhabitants  offered  for  sale 
were  the  skins  of  various  animals,  such  as  bears,  wolves,  foxes, 
deer,  raccoons,  pole-cats,  martens;  and,  in  particular,  of  the  sea- 
otters.  To  these  were  added  garments  made  of  skins;  another 
sort  of  clothing,  formed  from  the  bark  of  a  tree;  and  various 
pieces  of  workmanship.  The  articles,  which  the  natives  took  in 
exchange  for  their  commodities,  were  knives,  chisels,  pieces  of 
iron  and  tin,  nails,  looking-glasses,  buttons,  or  any  kind  of 
metal.  Though  commerce,  in  general,  was  carried  on  with  mu- 
tual honesty,  there  were  some  among  these  people,  who  were  as 
much  inclined  to  thievery  as  the  islanders  in  the  Southern  Ocean. 

In  the  present  abstract  the  time  will  not  allow  of  an  insertion  of 
more  than  a  short  account  of  the  inhabitants.  Their  persons  are 
described  to  have  been  generally  under  the  common  stature, 
somewhat  full  or  plump^  though  without  being  muscular.  They 
were  undoubtedly  eaters  of  human  flesh,  yet  they  had  no  appear- 
ance of  inhumanity  of  character.  To  our  navigators  they  seemed 
a  docile,  courteous,  and  well-disposed  people.  The  chief  employ- 
ments of  the  men  were  fishing  and  killing  land  or  sea  animals,  for 
the  sustenance  of  their  families;  while  the  women  were  occupied 
in  manufacturing  flaxen  or  woollen  garments,  or  in  other  domestic 
offices. 

On  the  26th,  the  repairs  of  the  ships  having  been  completed, 
Captain  Cook  sailed  from  Nootka  Sound.  In  the  prosecution  of 
his  voyage  northward,  and  back  again  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
the  facts  that  occurred  were  chiefly  of  a  nautical  kind. 

At  an  inlet  where  the  ships  came  to  anchor  on  the  12th  of  May, 
and  to  which  Captain  Cook  gave  the  appellation  of  Prince  Wil- 
liam's Sound,  he  had  an  opportunity  not  only  of  prosecuting  his 
nautical  and  geographical  discoveries,  but  of  making  considerable 
additions  to  his  knowledge  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  American 
coast.  The  natives  of  this  part  of  the  coast  had  a  near  resem- 
blance to  the  Esquimaux  and  Greenlanders.  It  is  remarkable 
concerning  this  people,  that  there  were  found  amongst  them  both 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  129 

beads  and  iron ;  which  must  have  come  from  some  civilized  na- 
tion, though  there  was  reason  to  suppose  that  our  navigators  were 
the  first  Europeans  with  whom  they  had  ever  held  a  direct  com- 
munication. 

Some  days  after  leaving  this  sound,  the  navigators  came  to  an 
inlet,  from  which  hopes  were  strongly  entertained,  that  it  would 
be  found  to  communicate  either  with  the  sea  to  the  north,  or  with 
Baffin's  Bay  to  the  east;  and,  accordingly,  it  became  the  object 
of  very  accurate  and  serious  examination.  The  Captain  was  soon 
persuaded  that  the  expectations  formed  from  it  were  groundless, 
yet  it  was  requisite  that  this  should  be  perfectly  ascertained.  A 
complete  investigation  of  the  inlet  consequently  took  place,  to  the 
distance  of  seventy  leagues  from  its  entrance,  and  indubitable 
marks  occurred  of  its  being  a  river,  but  one  of  the  most  considera- 
ble ones  that  are  known.  It  was  called  Cook's  River. 

The  navigators  cleared  Cook's  river  on  the  6th  of  June.  In 
the  prosecution  of  the  voyage,  on  the  26th,  there  was  so  thick  a 
fog,  that  the  navigators  could  not  see  a  hundred  yards  before 
them;  notwithstanding  which,  as  the  weather  was  moderate,  the 
Captain  did  not  intermit  his  course.  At  length,  however,  being 
alarmed  at  the  sound  of  breakers  on  one  side  of  the  ship,  he  im- 
mediately brought  her  to,  and  came  to  anchor;  and  the  Discov- 
ery, by  his  onjer,  did  the  same.  A  few  hours  afterwards,  the 
fog  having  in  some  degree  cleared  away,  it  appeared,  that  both 
the  vessels  had  escaped  a  very  imminent  danger.  Providence, 
in  the  dark,  had  conducted  them  between  rocks  which  the  corft- 
mander  would  not  have  ventured  to  pass  through  even  in  a  clear 
day,  and  had  conveyed  them  to  an  anchoring-place,  as  good  as  he 
could  possibly  have  fixed  upon,  had  the  choice  been  entirely  at 
his  option. 

On  the  27th,  the  vessels  reached  an  island  called  Oonalaska, 
the  inhabitants  of  which  behaved  with  a  degree  of  politeness  and 
courtesy  very  unusual  with  savage  tribes.  About  the  10th  of 
August  Captain  Cook  came  to  anchor  under  a  point  of  land,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  and  which  is 
remarkable  by  being  the  most  western  extremity  of  America 
hitherto  explored.  This  extremity  is  distant  from  the  eastern 
Cape  of  Siberia  only  thirteen  leagues:  and  thus  our  Commander 
had  the  glory  of  ascertaining  the  vicinity  of  the  two  continents, 
which  before  had  only  been  conjectured  from  the  reports  of  the 
neighboring  Asiatic  inhabitants,  and  the  imperfect  observations 
of  the  Russian  navigators. 

Resuming  his  course  he  crossed  over  to  the  opposite  Asiatic 
coast,  and  anchored  in  a  bay  which  he  named  the  Bay  of  St. 
Lawrence,  belonging  to  the  country  of  the  Tschutski.  After  this, 
again  approaching  the  shore  of  America,  he  proceeded  towards 
the  north,  and  on  the  18th,  he  reached  the  latitude  of  70  deg.  44 
min.  The  ships  were  now  close  to  the  edge  of  the  ice,  and  un- 


130  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

able  to  go  any  furfher.  The  ice,  was  as  compact  as  a  wall,  and 
was  judged  to  be  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  height.  Farther  to  the 
north,  it  appeared  much  higher.  Its  surface  was  extremely 
rugged,  and  in  different  places  there  were  seen  upon  it  pools  of 
water.  A  prodigious  number  of  sea-horses  lay  upon  the  ice;  and 
some  of  them,  on  the  19th,  were  procured  for  food,  there  being 
at  this  time  a  want  of  fresh  provisions.  They  were  bad  eating, 
but  the  voyagers  lived  upon  them  as  long  as  they  lasted;  and 
most  of  the  seamen  preferred  them  to  salt  meat. 

Captain  Cook  continued  until  the  29th,  to  traverse  the  Icy  Sea 
beyond  Behring's  Strait,  in  various  directions,  and  through  num- 
berless obstructions  and  difficulties.  Every  day  the  ice  increased, 
so  as  to  preclude  all  hope  of  attaining,,  at  least  during  the  present 
year,  the  grand  object  of  the  voyage,  the  discovery  of  a  passage 
northward  into  the  Atlantic.  Before  Captain  Cook  proceeded 
far  to  the  south,  he  employed  a  considerable  time  in  examining 
the  sea  and  coasts  in  the  neighborhood  of  Behring's  Strait,  both 
on  the  side  of  Asia  and  America;  and  on  the  3d  of  October  he 
returned  to  the  island  of  Oonalaska.  The  navigators  had  not 
been  here  many  days,  when  Captain  Cook  and  Captain  Clerke 
each  received  a  very  singular  present,  of  a  rye  loaf,  or  rather 
a  pie  in  the  form  of  a  loaf,  for  it  inclosed  some  salmon  highly  sea- 
soned with  pepper.  And  with  each  loaf  was  a  note  written  in  a 
language,  which  no  one  was  able  to  read.  It  was  imagined  that 
the  presents  came  from  some  Russians  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
therefore  a  few  bottles  of  rum,  wine,  and  porter,  were  sent  to 
these  unknown  friends  in  return;  it  being  rightly  judged  that  such 
articles  would  be  more  acceptable  than  any  thing  besides,  which 
it  was  in  the  power  of  the  navigators  to  bestow.  An  intelligent 
man  was  sent  with  the  bearer  of  the  presents,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  further  information.  Two  days  afterwards  this  per- 
son returned  with  three  Russian  seamen.  They  had  been  station- 
ed here  to  collect  furs;  and  had  on  the  island  a  dwelling-house, 
some  store-houses,  and  a  sloop  of  about  thirty  tons  burden.  One 
of  them  was  the  master  or  mate  of  the  vessel,  and  they  all  ap- 
peared to  be  sensible  and  well-behaved  persons.  From  a  very 
intelligent  Russian,  who  landed  at  Oonalaska  on  the  14th,  Cap- 
tain Cook  obtained  the  sight  of  two  manuscript  charts  of  these 
seas,  and  was  permitted  to  copy  them. 

All  things  being  ready 'for  his  departure,  Captain  Cook  left 
Oonalaska  on  the  26th,  and  sailed  for  the  Sandwich  Islands.  On 
the  30th  of  November,  he  arrived  at  Owhyee,  one  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands;  and  one  which  appeared  to  him  of  greater  extent  and 
importance  than  any  of  the  islands  that  had  yet  been  visited  in 
this  part  of  the  world.  He  occupied  nearly  seven  weeks  in  sailing 
round,  and  examining  its^coast.  On  the  16th  of  January,  1779, 
canoes  arrived  in  such  numbers  from  all  parts,  that  there  were  not 
fewer  than  a  thousand  about  the  two  ships,  most  of  them  crowded 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  131 

with  people.  Among  such  multitudes,  as,  at  times,  were  on  board, 
it  will  not  be  deemed  surprising,  that  some  should  have  betrayed 
a  thievish  disposition.  One  of  them  took  out  of  the  Resolution  a 
boat's  rudder;  and  made  off  with  it  so  speedily,  that  it  could  not 
be  recovered.  Captain  Cook  directed  two  or  three  muskets,  and 
as  many  four  pounders,  to  be  fired  over  the  canoe  in  which  the 
rudder  had  been  carried  off,  but,  at  the  report  of  these,  the  sur- 
rounding multitude  of  the  natives  appeared  to  be  more  surprised 
than  terrified. 

The  ships  were  anchored  on  the  17th,  in  a  bay  which  was  called 
by  the  inhabitants  Karakakooa.  In  the  whole  course  of  his  voy- 
ages, Captain  Cook  had  never  seen  so  many  people  assembled 
in  one  place  as  he  saw  on  this  occasion;  for,  besides  the  multitudes 
that  came  off  in  canoes,  all  the  shore  of  the  bay  was  covered  with 
spectators,  and  many  hundreds  were  swimming  round  the  ships 
like  shoals  of  fish.  In  the  progress  of  the  intercourse  which  was 
maintained  between  the  voyagers  and  the  natives,  the  quiet  and 
inoffensive  behavior  of  the  latter,  took  away  every  apprehension 
of  danger;  so  that  the  English  trusted  themselves  among  them  at 
all  times,  and  in  all  situations. 

But  the  satisfaction  that  was  derived  from  the  generosity  and 
hospitality  of  the  inhabitants,  was  frequently  interrupted  by  the 
propensity  of  many  of  them  to  stealing;  and  this  circumstance  was 
the  more  distressing,  as  it  sometimes  obliged  the  commander  and 
the  other  officers  to  have  recourse  to  acts  of  severity,  which  they 
would  willingly  have  avoided,  if  the  necessity  of  the  case  had  not 
absolutely  called  for  them. 

Early  the  next  day,  the  ships  sailed  out  of  Karakakooa  bay.  It 
was  the  captain's  design,  before  he  visited  the  other  Sandwich 
islands,  to  finish  the  survey  of  Owhyee,  that  he  had  begun.  His 
object  in  this  was,  if  possible,  to  find  a  harbor  better  sheltered 
from  the  weather  than  the  bay  he  had  just  left.  Two  days  after- 
wards a  gale  of  wind  sprung  up,  in  which  the  Resolution  had  the 
misfortune  of  injuring  her  foremast  in  so  dangerous  a  manner, 
that  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Karakakooa.  On  the  return  of  the 
ships  several  canoes  approached,  in  which  were  many  of  the  for- 
.mer  acquaintance  of  the  navigators. 

The  next  day,  February  the  13th,  the  Resolution's  foremast 
was  landed,  to  be  repaired,  and  tents  were  erected  in  their  former 
situation  on  the  shore.  An  Indian  was  this  day  detected  in 
stealing  the  armorer's  tongs  from  the  forge,  for  which  he  receiv- 
ed a  severe  flogging,  and  was  sent  out  of  the  ship.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  example  made  of  this  man,  in  the  afternoon  another  had 
the  audacity  to  snatch  the  tongs  and  a  chisel  from  the  same  place, 
with  which  he  jumped  overboard,  and  swam  for  the  shore.  The 
master  and  a  midshipman  were  instantly  despatched  after  him,  in 
the  small  cutter.  The  Indian  seeing  himself  pursued,  made  for 
a  canoe;  his  countrymen  took  him  on  board,  and  paddled  as  swiftly 


132  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

as  they  could  towards  the  shore.  Several  muskets  were  fifed  at 
them,  but  without  effect,  for  they  soon  got  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
shots. 

This  was  the  commencement  of  a  very  fatal  misunderstanding 
with  the  natives.  In  the  night,  one  of  the  boats  belonging  to  the 
Discovery  was  carried  off;  and  many  hostile  indications  on  the 
part  of  the  natives  were  remarked.  These  determined  Captain 
Cook  to  secure,  if  possible,  the  person  of  the  king  as  the  most 
effectual  step  that  could  be  taken  for  the  recovery  of  the  boat, 
and  restoring  amity  betwixt  the  English  and  the  inhabitants. 
Accompanied  by  the  lieutenant  of  marines,  a  serjeant,  corporal, 
and  seven  private  men;  having  at  the  same  time  armed  several 
men  in  the  ship's  launch  and  pinnace,  he  undauntedly  proceeded 
to  the  residence  of  the  king.  At  an  interview  with  the  king,  the 
captain  took  him  by  the  hand,  in  a  friendly  manner,  and  asked 
him  to  go  on  board  the  Resolution,  to  which  he  readily  consented. 
A  short  time  after  this,  several  of  the  Indians  were  observed  to  be 
arming  themselves  with  long  spears,  clubs,  and  daggers,  and 
putting  on  thick  mats  which  they  used  as  armor.  This  hostile 
appearance  increased,  and  became  the  more  alarming,  on  the  ar- 
rival of  two  men,  with  news  that  a  chief  called  Kareemoo  had 
been  killed  by  the  men  in  one  of  the  Discovery's  boats.  Captain 
Cook  being  at  this  time  surrounded  by  a  great  crowd,  thought  his 
situation  somewhat  hazardous.  He  therefore  ordered  the  lieu- 
tenant of  marines  to  inarch  his  small  party  to  the  water-side,  where 
the  boats  lay,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  shore:  the  Indians  readily 
made  a  lane  for  them  to  pass,  and  did  not  offer  to  interrupt  them. 
The  distance  they  had  to  go  might  be  about  fifty  or  sixty  yards. 
Captain  Cook  followed,  having  hold  of  the  king's  hand,  who  ac- 
companied him  very  willingly:  he  was  attended  by  his  wife,  two 
sons  and  several  chiefs.  His  younger  son  went  immediately  into 
the  pinnance,  expecting  his  father  to  follow;  but  the  latter  had  no 
sooner  arrived  at  the  water-side,  than  his  wife  threw  her  arms 
about  his  neck,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  two  chiefs,  forced  him 
to  sit  down  by  the  side  of  a  double  canoe.  Captain  Cook  expostu- 
lated with  them,  but  to  no  purpose,  they  would  not  suffer  the  king 
to  proceed,  telling  him  that  he  would  be  put  to  death  if  he  went 
on  board  the  ship. 

While  the  king  was  in  this  situation,  another  of  the  chiefs  was 
observed  lurking  near,  with  an  iron  dagger  partly  concealed  under 
his  cloak.  His  attention,  apparently,  was  to  stab  either  Captain 
Cook,  or  the  lieutenant  of  marines.  The  latter  proposed  to  fire 
at  him,  but  the  captain  would  not  permit  it.  The  chief  closed 
upon  them,  on  which  the  officer  struck  him  with  his  musket,  and 
compelled  him  to  retire.  Captain  Cook  seeing  the  tumult  in- 
crease, and  that  the  Indians  grew  more  daring  and  resolute,  found 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  carry  off  the  king  by  force,  without 
sacrificing  many  of  his  people.  He  therefore  paused  a  little,  and 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  133 

was  on  the  point  of  giving  orders  to  reimbark,  when  a  man  threw 
a  stone  at  him.  This  Captain  Cook  returned  by  a  discharge  of 
small  shot.  The  man  brandished  his  spear,  and  was  about  to  dart 
it  at  the  captain,  when  the  latter  knocked  him  down  with  his 
musket.  He  expostulated  strongly  with  the  most  forward  of  the 
crowd  upon  their  turbulent  behavior;  and  now  only  sought  to 
secure  a  safe  embarkation  for  his  small  party,  which  was 
closely  pressed  by  a  body  of  several  thousand  people.  One  man 
was  observed  behind  a  double  canoe,  in  the  action  of  darting  his 
spear  at  Captain  Cook.  He  therefore  was  forced  to  fire  at  him 
in  his  own  defence,  but  he  happened  to  kill  another  close  to  him, 
equally  forward  in  the  tumult.  The  serjeant  observing  that  the 
captain  had  missed  the  man  he  aimed  at,  received  orders  to  fire  at 
him,  which  he  did,  and  killed  him.  By  this  time  the  impetuosity 
of  the  Indians  was  somewhat  repressed.  They  fell  back  in  a 
body,  and  seemed  staggered;  but  being  pushed  on  by  those  be- 
hind, they  returned  to  the  charge,  and  poured  a  volley  of  stones 
among  the  marines,  who  without  waiting  for  orders,  returned  it 
with  a  general  discharge  of  musketry.  This  was  instantly  follow- 
ed by  a  fire  from  the  boats.  Captain  Cook  waved  his  hand  to  the 
boats,  and  called  to  them  to  cease  firing,  and  to  come  nearer  in 
to  receive  the  marines.  The  officer  in  the  pinnace  immediately 
brought  that  vessel  as  close  to  the  shore  as  he  could,  notwith- 
standing the  showe*s  of  stones  that  fell  among  his  people;  but 
the  lieutenant  who  commanded  in  the  launch,  instead  of  pulling 
in  to  the  assistance  of  Captain  Cook,  withdrew  his  boat  farther 
off,  at  the  very  moment  that  every  thing  seems  to  have  depended 
upon  the  timely  exertions  of  those  in  the  boats.  By  his  own  ac- 
count, he  mistook  the  signal:  but  be  that  as  it  may,  this  circum- 
stance appears  to  have  decided  the  fatal  turn  of  the  affair,  and  to 
have  removed  every  chance  which  remained  with  Captain  Cook 
of  escaping  with  his  life.  The  marines  several  times  fired  upon 
the  crowd,  but  to  little  purpose,  for  the  Indians  soon  rushed 
among  them,  and  forced  them  into  the  water  where  four  of  them 
were  killed.  Captain  Cook  was  now  the  only  Englishman  re- 
maining on  shore.  He  was  observed  to  be  making  towards  the 
pinnace,  holding  his  left  hand  against  the  back  of  his  head,  to 
guard  it  from  the  stones  which  were  thrown  at  him,  and  carrying 
his  musket  under  his  other  arm.  An  Indian  was  seen  following 
him,  but  with  caution  and  timidity;  for  he  stopped  once  or  twice, 
as  if  undetermined  to  proceed.  At  last  he  advanced  upon  him 
unawares,  and  with  a  large  club,  or  common  stake,  gave  him  a 
blow  on  the  back  of  the  head,  and  then  precipitately  retreated. 
The  stroke  seemed  to  have  stunned  Captain  Cook:  he  staggared 
a  few  paces,  then  fell  on  his  hand  and  one  knee,  and  dropped  his 
musket.  As  he  was  rising,  and  before  he  could  recover  his  feet, 
another  Indian  stabbed  him  in  the  back  of  the  neck  with  an  iron 
dagger.  He  then  fell  into  the  water,  in  a  place  where  it  was 

12 


134 


CAPTAIN    COOK. 


about  knee  deep;  and  others  immediately  crowded  upon  him,  and 
endeavored  to  keep  him  under;  but,  struggling  very  stongly  with 
them,  he  got  his  head  up,  and  casting  his  look  towards  the  pin- 
nance,  seemed  to  solicit  assistance.  Though  the  boat  was  not 
above  five  or  six  yards  distant  from  him,  yet  from  the  crowded 
and  confused  state  of  the  crew,  it  seems  it  was  not  in  their  power 
to  save  him.  The  Indians  got  him  under  again,  but  in  deeper 
water.  He  was,  however,  able  to  get  his  head  up  once  more; 
and,  being  almost  spent  in  the  struggle,  he  naturally  turned  to  the 
rock,  and  was  endeavoring  to  support  himself  by  it,  when  a  sav- 
age gave  him  a  blow  with  a  club,  and  he  was  seen  alive  no  more. 
They  hauled  him  up  lifeless  on  the  rocks,  where  they  seemed  to 
take  a  savage  pleasure  in  using  every  possible  barbarity  to  his  dead 
body,  snatching  the  daggers  out  of  each  other's  hands,  to  have  the 
horrid  satisfaction  of  piercing  the  fallen  victim  of  their  barbarous 


Death  of  Captain  Cook. 

rage;  and  after  they  had  thus  glutted  their  revenge,  they  carried 
it  off  in  triumph.  Captain  Clerke,  who  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  expedition,  made  every  effort  to  recover  the  remains 
of  Captain  Cook;  but  his  bones  only  could  be  obtained,  and  these 
were  committed  to  the  deep,  amidst  the  heartfelt  grief  of  all  who 
had  served  with  him. 

In  his  manners,  Captain  Cook  was  plain,  simple,  and  manly. 
He  was  an  excellent  husband  and  father,  a  sincere  and  steady 
friend.  The  benevolence  and  humanity  of  his  disposition  were 
peculiarly  remarkable.  They  were  apparent  from  his  treatment 
of  his  men,  through  all  his  voyages;  and  from  his  conduct  towards 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  135 

the  natives  of  all  the  countries  which  were  discovered  byhim. 
The  health,  the  convenience,  and,  as  far  as  it  could  be  admitted, 
the  enjoyment  of  those  under  his  command,  were  the  constant 
objects  of  his  attention:  and  he  was  invariably  anxious  to  amelior- 
ate the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  islands  and 
places  which  he  visited.  With  regard  to  their  thieveries,  he  can- 
didly apologized  for,  and  overlooked  many  offences  which  others 
would  have  punished;  and  when  he  felt  impelled  to  proceed  to  any 
acts  of  severity,  he  never  exerted  them  without  reluctance  and 
concern. 

With  respect  to  his  talents,  they  were  undeniably  of  the  most 
useful  kind.  He  had  a  capacious  and  penetrating  mind;  and  all 
his  designs  were  accordingly  bold  and  extensive.  When  these 
were  formed,  he  never  expressed  a  doubt  respecting  their  execu- 
tion; for  the  same  perspicuity  and  orderly  arrangement  of  thought 
which  enabled  him  to  form  the  designs,  also  enabled  him  to  devise 
the  most  simple  and  effectual  modes  of  executing  them.  In  the 
execution  he  was  equally  distinguished;  no  difficulty  perplexed, 
no  danger  appalled  him.  The  talents  and  knowledge  which  he 
possessed  were  always  completely  at  his  command,  when  they 
were  most  needed.  And  for  great  designs  he  was  also  qualified 
by  the  constitution  of  his  body,  which  was  inured  to  labor,  and 
capable  of  supporting  the  greatest  fatigue  and  hardships.  In 
addition  to  a  consummate  acquaintance  with  navigation,  Captain 
Cook  possessed  a  knowledge  of  other  sciences.  In  this  respect, 
the  ardor  of  his  mind  rose  above  the  disadvantages  of  a  very 
confined  education.  His  progress  in  the  different  branches  of 
mathematics,  and  particularly  in  astronomy,  became  so  eminent, 
that,  at  length,  he  was  able  to  take  the  lead  in  making  the  neces- 
sary observations  of  this  kind,  in  the  course  of  his  voyages.  He 
attained,  likewise,  to  such  a  degree  of  proficiency  in  general 
learning,  and  in  the  art  of  composition,  as  to  be  able  to  express 
himself  with  a  manly  clearness  and  propriety,  and  to  become  re- 
spectable as  the  narrator,  as  well  as  the  performer,  of  great  ac- 
tions. Another  trait,  which  was  peculiarly  conspicuous  in  the 
character  of  Captain  Cook,  was  the  perseverance  with  which  he 
pursued  the  noble  objects  to  which  his  life  was  devoted.  In  this 
he  scarcely  ever  had  an  equal,  and  never  a  superior.  Nothing 
could  divert  him  from  the  points  he  aimed  at;  and  he  persisted  in 
the  prosecution  of  them,  through  difficulties  and  obstructions, 
which  would  have  deterred  minds  even  of  considerable  strength 
and  firmness.  In  stature  he  is  described  to  have  been  somewhat 
above  the  common  size;  and,  though  a  good  looking  man,  he  was 
plain  both  in  address  and  appearance.  His  head  was  small:  his 
hair,  which  was  a  dark  brown,  he  wore  tied  behind.  His  face 
was  full  of  expression;  his  nose  exceedingly  well  shaped;  his 
eyes,  which  were  small,  and  of  a  brown  cast,  were  quick  and 
piercing,  and  his  eyebrows  prominent;  which  gave  to  his  counte- 


136  CAPTAIN    COOK. 

i 

nance  altogether  an  air  of  austerity.  In  the  year  1762  he  had 
married  an  amiable  and  deserving  woman.  He  had  by  her  six 
children,  but  of  these  three  sons  only  survived  him.  They  were 
all  brought  up  in  the  naval  service.  One  of  them  was  lost  in  a 
hurricane  at  sea,  and  the  other  two  fell  honorably  in  the  cause  of 
their  country.  On  the  widow  a  pension  of  two  hundred  pounds 
a  year  for  her  life,  and  on  each  of  the  sons  a  pension  of  twenty- 
five  pounds  a  year  was  settled  by  the  British  government. 


NARRATIVE    OF    EVENTS   WHICH    OCCURRED    SUBSE- 
QUENTLY TO  THE  DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  COOK. 

After  Captain  Clerke,  upon  whom  the  command  of  the  expedi- 
tion devolved,  had  left  the  fatal  island  of  Owhyhee,  he  considered 
it  his  duty  to  endeavor  to  execute  the  plans  of  discovery  that  had 
been  laid  down  by  his  lamented  predecessor.  He  consequently 
coasted  several  others  of  the  Sandwich  Islands;  and  finally  left 
them  on  the  15th  of  March,  1779.  The  ships  now  proceeded 
towards  Kamtschatka;  and,  in  their  course,  the  Resolution  sprung 
a  leak  so  bad,  that  at  one  time  the  whole  s;>ace  between  the  decks 
was  deluged  with  water.  On  the  twenty-third  the  mountains  of 
Kamtschatka,  covered  with  snow,  were  within  view.  The  weath- 
er was  now  so  severe,  that  the  ship  appeared  like  a  complete  mass 
of  ice,  and  the  rigging  was  so  incrusted  with  it,  that  the  different 
ropes  were  more  than  double  their  usual  thickness. 

Two  days  after  the  discovery  of  Kamtschatka,  when  off  the  en- 
trance of  Awatska  Bay,  the  Resolution  lost  sight  of  the  Discov- 
ery. The  Resolution  entered  the  bay,  and  soon  afterwards  the 
town  of  Petropaulowski  was  within  view.  It  consisted  of  a  few 
miserable  log-houses,  and  some  conical  huts  raised  on  poles, 
amounting  in  all  to  about  thirty;  yet  here  the  voyagers  were  re- 
ceived and  treated  with  feelings  of  humanity,  -joined  to  a  great- 
ness of  mind  and  elevation  of  sentiment  which  would  have  done 
honor  to  any  nation.  On  the  1st  of  May  the  Discovery  also 
entered  the  harbor.  On  the  5th  of  July  the  navigators  passed 
through  Behring's  Straits.  They  first  sailed  along  the  Asiatic 
coast,  and  then  stretched  over  to  that  of  America,  with  a  view  of 
exploring  the  sea  between  the  latitudes  of  sixty-eight  and  sixty- 
nine  degrees.  But  in  this  attempt  they  were  disappointed;  on  the 
7th  their  farther  progress  was  stopped  by  a  large  and  compact  field 
of  ice  connected  with  the  land. 

At  one  time,  in  attempting  to  penetrate  towards  the  north-west, 
the  Discovery  was  in  a  very  dangerous  situation.  She  became 


CAPTAIN    COOK.  137 

so  entangled  by  several  large  pieces  of  ice,  that  her  way  was 
stopped,  and  she  suffered  much  injury.  A  change  of  wind,  how- 
ever taking  place  in  the  afternoon,  the  ice  began  to  separate, 
and  the  navigators,  setting  all  their  sails,  forced  a  passage  through 
it. 

On  the  31st  they  repassed  Behring's  Straits.  Captain  Clerke's 
health  now  rapidly  declined.  On  the  17th  of  August,  he  was  no 
longer  able  to  rise  from  his  bed;  and  five  days  afterwards  he  died 
of  a  consumption,  which  had  commenced  before  he  left  England, 
and  of  which  he  had  lingered  during  the  whole  voyage.  The 
command  of  the  expedition  now  devolved  upon  Captain  Gore, 
who  removed  into  the  Resolution,  and  appointed  Mr.  King  to 
the  command  of  the  Discovery.  The  body  of  Captain  Clerke 
was  interred. near  the  town  of  Petropaulowski,  on  Sunday,  the 
29th,  with  all  the  solemnity  and  honors  which  the  voyagers  could 
bestow. 

On  the  12th  of  October  they  lost  sight  of  Kamtschatka.  In 
the  forenoon  of  the  29th  of  November,  the  ships  passed  several 
Chinese  fishing-boats;  and  the  sea  was  covered  with  the  wrecks 
of  boats  that  had  been  lost,  as  it  was  conjectured,  in  the  late 
boisterous  weather.  The  navigators  were  now  in  latitude  22 
deg.  one  min.  south.  On  the  following  day,  they  ran  along  the 
Lema  Islands,  and  took  a  Chinese  pilot  on  board;  and  at  9 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  December  they  anchored  at 
the  distance  of  three  leagues  from  Macao.  Captain  King  was 
sent  to  Canton  to  obtain  supplies  of  provisions  and  stores. 

On  account  of  the  war  between  England  and  America,  and 
with  France  and  Spain  as  her  allies,  of  which  the  navigators  re- 
ceived intelligence  at  Canton,  they  put  themselves  in  the  best 
posture  of  defence  that  they  were  able ;  in  the  Resolution  they 
mounted  sixteen  guns,  and  in  the  Discovery  ten.  They  had 
reason,  however,  to  believe,  from  the  generosity  of  their  ene- 
mies, that  these  precautions  were  superfluous;  for  they  were 
informed  that  instructions  had  been  found  on  board  all  the 
French  ships  of  war  captured  in  Europe,  directing  their  com- 
manders, in  case  of  falling  in  with  the  ships  that  sailed  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Cook,  to  suffer  them  to  proceed  without 
molestation;  and  the  same  orders  were  also  said  to  have  been 
given  by  the  American  Congress  in  the  vessels  employed  in 
their  service.  In  return  for  these  liberal  concessions,  Captain 
Gore  resolved  to  refrain  from  availing  himself  of  any  opportuni- 
ties of  capture,  and  to  preserve,  throughout  the  remainder  of 
the  voyage,  the  strictest  neutrality. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1780,  the  navigators  got  under  sail 
from  Macao;  on  the  19th,  they  saw  Pulo  Lapata,  and  on  the 
20th,  descried  Pulo  Condore,  and  anchored  in  the  harbor  at  the 
south-west  end  of  the  island.  The  navigators  remained  at  Pulo 
Condore  till  the  28th  of  January,  when  they  unmoored,  and  pro- 

12* 


138  SUFFERINGS    OF    EPHRAIM    HOW. 

ceeded  on  their  homeward  passage;  passing  through  the  Straits 
of  Banca,  and  Sunda,  without  any  occurrence  worthy  of  particu- 
lar remark.  On  the  18th  of  February  they  left  the  Straits  of 
Sunda.  In  the  night,  between  the  25th  and  26th,  they  experi- 
enced a  violent  storm,  during  which  almost  every  sail  they  had 
bent  was  split  to  rags:  and  the  next  day  th'ey  were  obliged  to 
bend  their  last  set  of  sails,  and  to  knot  and  splice  the  rigging, 
their  cordage  being  all  expended. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  they  saw  the  land  of  Africa;  on  the  eve- 
ning of  the  12th,  they  dropped  anchor  in  False  Bay,  and  the 
next  morning  stood  into  Simon's  Bay,  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  They  sailed  out  of  the  Bay  on  the  9th,  and  on  the  12th 
of  .June,  they  passed  the  equator  for  the  fourth  time"  during  the 
voyage.  On  the  12th  of  August  they  made  the  western  coast  of 
Ireland,  and,  after  a  fruitless  attempt  to  put  into  Port  Galway, 
they  were  obliged,  by  strong  southerly  winds,  to  steer  northward; 
and  on  the  26th  of  August,  both  the  ships  came  to  anchor  at 
Stromness  in  the  Orkneys,  whence  Captain  King  was  despatched 
by  Captain  Gore,  to  acquaint  the  Board  of  Admiralty  of  their 
arrival.  On  the  1st  of  October,  the  ships  arrived  safe  at  the 
Nore,  after  an  absence  of  four  years,  two  months,  and  twenty- 
two  days. 


SUFFERINGS  OF  EPHRAIM  HOW. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1676,  Mr.  Ephraim  How,  of  New 
Haven,  in  New  England,  with  his  two  eldest  sons;  one  Mr. 
Augfir;  Caleb  Jones,  son  to  Mr.  William  Jones,  one  of  the 
magistrates  of  New  Haven;  and  a  boy;  six  persons  in  all;  set 
sail  from  New  Haven  for  Boston,  in  a  small  ketch,  of  about 
seventeen  tons. 

Having  despatched  his  business  there,  he  sailed  for  New 
Haven  on  the  10th  of  September,  but  was  forced  back  to  Boston 
by  contrary  winds.  Here  Mr.  How  was  seized  with  a  violent 
flux,  which  continued  nearly  a  month;  many  being  at  that  time 
sick,  and  some  dying  of  the  same. 

Being  in  some  degree  restored  to  health,  he  again  sailed  from 
Boston,  October  10.  They  went  with  a  fair  wind  as  far  as  Cape 
Cod:  but  on  a  sudden  the  weather  became  very  tempestuous,  so 
that  they  could  not  pass  the  Cape,  but  were  driven  off  to  sea, 
where  they  were  in  great  danger,  experiencing  terrible  storms, 
with  outrageous  winds  and  seas. 

His  eldest  son  fell  sick  and  died  a^out  the  21st;  soon  after  his 
other  son  was  'taken  ill  and  died  also.  This  was  a  bitter  cup  to 
the  poor  father,  for  these  youths  were  his  only  assistants  in 


SUFFERINGS    OF    EPHRAIM    HOW.  139 

working  the  vessel.  Soon  after  XUaleb  Jones  died,  so  that  half 
the  company  were  now  no  more. 

Mr.  How  continued  in  a  very  sickly  and  weak  state,  yet  was 
necessitated  to  stand  at  the  helm  twenty-four  and  thirty-six  hours 
together!  During  this  time  the  sea  was  so  boisterous  as  fre- 
quently to  break  over  the  vessel,  that  if  he  had  not  been  lashed 
fast  he  must  have  been  washed  overboard.  In  this  extremity, 
he  was  at  a  loss  in  his  own  thoughts,  whether  he  should  persist 
in  endeavoring  to  make  for  the  New  England  shore,  or  bear 
«away  for  the  Southern  Islands.  Upon  his  proposing  the  question 
t  >  Mr.  Augur,  they  determined,  according  to  the  custom  of  some 
in  those  times,  to  decide  this  difficult  case  by  casting  lots.  They 
did  so,  and  it  fedl  upon  New  England. 

Nearly  about  the  7th  of  November  they  lost  their  rudder,  so 
that  now  their  only  dependence  was  upon  Providence.  In  this 
deplorable  state  they  drove  up  and  down  for  a  fortnight  longer. 
During  the  last  six  weeks,  the  poor  infirm  Mr.  How  was  hardly 
ever  dry,  nor  had  he  the  benefit  of  warm  food  above  thrice  or 
thereabouts. 

At  length,  about  the  21st  of  November,  early  in  the  morning, 
the  vessel  was  driven  on  the  tailings  of  a  ledge  of  rocks,  where 
the  sea  broke  violently.  Looking  out,  they  saw  a  dismal  rocky 
island  to  the  leeward,  upon  which,  if  Providence  had  not  by  the 
breakers  given  them  timely  warning,  they  had  been  dashed  to 
pieces.  They  immediately  let  go  an  anchor,  and  got  out  the 
boat,  and  the  sea  became  calm.  The  boat  proving  leaky,  and 
they  being  in  great  terror,  they  took  but  little  out  of  the  ketch, 
but  got  on-shore  as  they  could. 

Here  they  could  discover  neither  man  nor  beast.  It  was  a 
small,  rocky,  desolate  island,  near  Cape  Sable,  the  Southern 
extremity  of  Nova  Scotia.  They  now  appeared  to  be  in  great 
danger  of  being  starved  to  death,  but  the  storm  returning,  beat 
so  violently  upon  the  vessel,  as  it  still  lay  at  anchor,  that  it  was 
stove  to  pieces,  and  several  things  floated  to  the  shore. 

The  following  articles  were  all  they  had  towards  their  future 
support: — a  cask  of  gunpowder,  which  received  no  damage  from 
the  water;  a  barrel  of  wine;  half  a  barrel  of  molasses;  several 
useful  articles  towards  building  a  tent:  all  the  above  drifted  from 
the  wreck;  besides  which  they  had,  firearms  and  shot;  a  pot 
for  boiling;  and  most  probably  other  things  not  mentioned  in  the 
narrative. 

Their  tent  was  soon  erected,  for  the  cold  was  now  getting 
severe,  but  new  and  great  distresses  attended  them,  for  though 
they, had  arms  and  ammunition,  there  were  seldom  any  fowls  to 
be  seen,  except  crows,  ravens,  and  seagulls.  These  were  so 
few,  that  they  could  seldom  shoot  more  than  one  at  a  time. 
Many  times  half  a  fowl,  with  the  liquor  it  was  boiled  in.  served 
for  a  meal  for  all  three.  Once  they  lived  five  days  without  any 


140  AN  ESCAPE  THROUGH    THE   CABIN-WINDOWS. 

sustenance,  but  did  not  feel  themselves  pinched  with  hunger  as 
at  other  times:  which  they  esteemed  a  special  favor  of  Heaven 
unto  them. 

When  they  had  lived  in  this  miserable  condition  twelve  weeks, 
Mr.  How's  dear  friend  and  companion,  Mr.  Augur,  died,  about 
the  middle  of  February,  1677;  so  that  he  had  none  left  to  con- 
verse with  but  the  lad,  who  likewise  departed  on  the  2d  of  April. 

Mr.  How  was  now  the  sole  inhabitant  of  this  desolate  spot 
during  April,  May,  and  June,  and  saw  fishing  vessels,  every 
now  and  then,  sailing  by;  some  of  which  came  even  nearer  tfr 
the  island  than  that  which  at  last  took  him  off.  He  used  all  the 
means  in  his  power  to  make  them  acquainted  with  his  distress; 
but  they  either  did  not  see  him,  or  were  afraid  to  approach  close 
to  the  island,  lest  some  of  those  Indians  should  be  quartered 
there,  who  were  at  that  time  in  hostility  against  the  English,  viz. 
the  North-East  Indians,  who  held  out  after  the  death  of  the  fa- 
mous Philip,  king  of  the  Wompanoags. 

At  length  a  vessel  belonging  to  Salem,  in  New  England,  provi- 
dentially passed  by,  and  seeing  this  poor  fellow,  they  sent  their 
boat  on  shore,  and  took  him  away.  He  had  been  on  the  island 
more  than  seven  months,  and  above  a  quarter  of  a  year  by  himself. 
On  the  18th  of  July  he  arrived  at  Salem,  and  at  last  returned  to 
his  family  at  New  Haven.  They  for  a  twelvemonth  had  supposed 
him  dead;  by  which  it  appears  he  did  not  get  home  till  the  end 
of  August,  or  perhaps  later. 


AN  ESCAPE  THROUGH  THE  CABIN-WINDOWS. 

In    the  year    18 — ,  said  Capt.  M ,  I  was  bound,  in  a  fine 

stout  ship  of  about  four  hundred  tons  burden,   from  the  port  of 

P to  Liverpool.     The  ship  had  a  valuable  cargo  on  board  and 

about  ninety  thousand  dollars  in  specie.  I  had  been  prevented, 
by  other  urgent  business,  from  giving  much  of  my  attention  to  the 
vessel  while  loading  and  equipping  for  the  voyage,  but  was  very 
particular  in  my  directions  to  the  chief  mate,  in  whom  I  had 
great  confidence,  he  having  sailed  with  me  some  years,  to  avoid 
entering,  if  possible,  any  but  native  American  seamen.  When 
we  were  about  to  sail,  he  informed  me  that  he  had  not  been  able 
to  comply  with  my  directions  entirely  in  this  particular;  but  had 
shipped  two  foreigners  as  seamen,  one  a  native  of  Guernsey,  and 
the  other  a  Frenchman  from  Brittany.  I  was  pleased,  however, 
with  the  appearance  of  the  crew  generally,  and  particularly  with 
the  foreigners.  They  were  both  stout  and  able-bodied  men;  and 
were  particularly  alert  and  attentive  to  orders. 


AN  ESCAPE  THROUGH  THE    CABIN-WINDOWS.  141 

The  passage  commenced  auspiciously,  and  promised  to  be  a 
speedy  one,  as  we  took  a  fine  steady  westerly  wind  soon  after  we 
lost  soundings.  To  my  great  sorrow  and  uneasiness,  I  soon  dis- 
covered in  the  foreigners  a  change  of  conduct  for  the  worse. 
They  becarne  insolent  to  the  mates  and  appeared  to  be  frequently 
under  the  excitement  of  liquor,  and  had  evidently  acquired  an  un- 
due influence  with  the  rest  of  the  men.  Their  intemperance  soon 
became  intolerable,  and  as  it  was  evident  that  they  had  brought 
l.quor  on  board  with  them,  I  determined  upon  searching  the  fore- 
castle and  depriving  them  of  it.  An  order  to  this  effect  was  given 
to  the  mates,  and  they  were  directed  to  go  about  its  execution 
mildly  and  firmly,  taking  no  arms  with  them  as  they  seemed  in- 
clined to  do,  but  to  give  every  chest,  birth  and  locker  in  the  fore- 
castle a  thorough  examination;  and  bring  aft  to  the  cabin  any 
spirits  they  might  find. 

It  was  not  without  much  anxiety  that  I  sent  them  forward  upon 
this  duty.  I  remained  upon  the  quarter  deck  myself,  ready  to  go 
to  their  aid,  should  it  be  necessary.  In  a  few  moments,  a  loud 
and  angry  dispute  was  succeeded  by  a  sharp  scuffle  around  the 
forecastle  companion  -way.  The  steward,  at  my  call,  handed  my 
loaded  pistols  from  the  cabin,  and  with  them  I  hastened  forward. 
The  Frenchman  had  grappled  the  second  mate,  who  was  a  mere 
lad,  by  the  throat,  thrown  him  across  the  heel  of  the  bowsprit, 
and  was  apparently  determined  to  strangle  him  to  death.  The 
chief  mate  was  calling  for  assistance  from  below,  where  he  was 
struggling  with  the  Guernsey  man.  The  rest  of  the  crew  were  in- 
different spectators,  but  rather  encouraging  the  foreigners  than 
otherwise.  I  presented  a  pistol  at  the  head  of  the  Frenchman, 
and  ordered  him  to  release  the  second  mate,  which  he  instantly 
did.  I  then  ordered  him  into  the  foretop,  and  the  others,  who 
were  near,  into  the  maintop,  none  to  come  down  under  pain  of 
death,  until  ordered.  The  steward  had  by  this  time  brought 
another  pair  of  pistols,  with  which  I  armed  the  second  mate,  di- 
recting him  to  remain  on  deck;  and  went  below  into  the  forecastle 
myself.  I  found  that  the  chief  mate  had  been  slightly  wounded 
in  t\vo  places  by  the  knife  of  his  antagonist,  who,  however,  ceased 
to  resist  as  I  made  my  appearance,  and  we  immediately  secured 
him  in  irons.  The  search  was  now  made,  and  a  quantity  of  liquor 
found  and  taken  to  the  cabin.  The  rest  of  the  men  were  then 
called  down  from  the  tops,  and  the  Frenchman  was  made  the  com- 
panion of  his  coadjutor's  confinement.  I  then  expostulated,  at 
some  length,  with  the  others  upon  their  improper  and  insubordi- 
nate conduct,  and  upon  the  readiness  with  which  they  had  suf- 
fered themselves  to  be  drawn  into  such  courses  by  two  rascally 
foreigners,  and  expressed  hopes  that  I  should  have  no  reason  for 
further  complaint  during  the  rest  of  the  vovage.  This  remon- 
strance I  thought  had  e fleet,  as  -they  appeared  contrite  and 


142  AN  ESCAPE  THROUGH  THE    CABIN-WINDOWS. 

promised  amendment.  They  were  then  dismissed,  and  order  was 
restored. 

The  next  day  the  foreigners  strongly  solicited  pardon,  with  the 
most  solemn  promises  of  future  good  conduct;  and  as  the  rest  of 
the  crew  joined  in  their  request,  I  ordered  that  their  irons  should 
be  taken  off.  For  several  days  the  duties  of  the  ship  were  per- 
formed to  my  entire  satisfaction;  but  I  could  discover  in  the 
countenances  of  the  foreigners,  expressions  of  deep  and  ran- 
corous animosity  to  the  chief  mate,  who  was  a  prompt,  energetic 
seaman,  requiring  from  the  sailors,  at  all  times,  ready  and  implicit 
obedience  to  his  orders. 

A  week  perhaps  had  passed  over  in  this  way,  when  one  night, 
in  the  mid  watch,  all  hands  were  called  to  shorten  sail.  Ordinari- 
ly upon  occasions  of  this  kind,  the  duty  was  conducted  by  the  mate, 
but  I  now  went  upon  deck  myself  and  gave  orders,  sending 
him  upon  the  forecastle.  The  night  was  dark  and  squally;  but 
the  sea  was  not  high,  and  the  ship  was  running  off  about  nine 
knots,  with  the  wind  upon  the  starboard  quarter.  The  weather 
being  very  unpromising,  the  second  reef  was  taken  in  the  fore  and 
main  topsails,  the  mizen  handed  and  the  fore  and  mizen  top  gal- 
lant yards  sent  down.  This  done,  one  watch  was  permitted  to 
go  below,  and  I  prepared  to  betake  myself  to  my  birth  again,  di- 
recting the  mate,  to  whom  I  wished  to  give  some  orders,  should 
be  sent  to  me.  To  my  utter  astonishment  and  consternation, 
word  was  brought  me,  after  a  short  time,  that  he  was  no  where 
to  be  found.  I  hastened  upon  deck,  ordered  all  hands  up  again, 
and  questioned  every  man  in  the  ship  upon  the  subject;  but  they, 
with  one  accord,  declared  that  they  had  not  seen  the  mate  for- 
ward. Lanterns  were  then  brought,  and  every  accessible  part 
of  the  vessel  was  unavailingly  searched.  I  then,  in  the  hearing 
of  the  whole  crew,  declared  my  belief  that  he  must  have  fallen 
overboard  by  accident,  again  dismissed  one  watch  below,  and  re- 
paired to  the  caftin,  in  a  state  of  mental  agitation  impossible  to 
be  described.  For  notwithstanding  the  opinion  which  I  had  ex- 
pressed to  the  contrary,  I  could  not  but  entertain  strong  suspi- 
cions that  the  unfortunate  man  had  met  a  violent  death. 

The  second  mate  was  a  protegee  of  mine;  and,  as  I  have  be- 
fore observed,  was  a  very  young  man  of  not  much  experience  as 
a  seaman.  I  therefore  felt  that,  under  critical  circumstances,  my 
main  support  had  fallen  from  me.  It  is  needless  to  add,  that  a 
deep  sense  of  forlornness  and  insecurity  was  the  result  of  these 
reflections. 

My  first  step  was  to  load  and  deposit  in  my  state  room  all  the 
fire  arms  on  board,  amounting  to  several  muskets  and  four  pairs 
of  pistols.  The  steward  was  a  faithful  mulatto  maa,  who  had 
sailed  with  me  several  voyages.  To  him  I  communicated  my 
suspicions,  and  directed  him -to  be  constantly  on  the  alert:  and 


AN  ESCAPE  THROUGH    THE  CABIN  WINDOWS.  143 

should  any  further  difficulty  with  the  crew  occur,  to  repair  imme- 
diately to  my  state  room  and  arm  himself.  His  usual  birth  was 
in  the  steerage,  but  I  further  directed  that  he  should,  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  clear  out  and  occupy  one  in  the  cabin  near  my 
o\vn.  The  second  mate  occupied  a  small  state  room  opening  into 
the  passage  which  led  from  the  steerage  to  the  cabin.  I  called 
him  from  the  deck,  gave  him  a  pair  of  loaded  pistols,  with  orders 
to  keep  them  in  his  birth;  and,  during  his  night  watches  on  deck, 
never  to  go  forward  of  the  main  mast,  but  to  continue  as  constant- 
ly as  possible  near  the  cabin  companion-way,  and  call  me  upon 
the  slightest  occasion.  After  this,  I  laid  down  in  my  bed,  order- 
ing that  I  should  be  called  at  four  o'clock,  for  the  morning  watch. 
Only  a  few  minutes  had  elapsed,  when  I  heard  three  or  four  knocks 
under  the  counter  of  the  ship,  which  is  that  part  of  the  stern  im- 
mediately under  the  cabin  windows.  In  a  minute  or  two  they 
were  distinctly  repeated.  I  arose — opened  the  cabin  window  and 
called.  Tke  mate  answered! — I  gave  him  the  end  of  a  rope  to  as- 
sist him  up,  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  flood  of  gratitude  which 
my  delighted  soul  poured  forth  to  that  Being,  who  had  restored 
him  to  me  uninjured.  His  story  was  soon  told.  He  had  gone 
forward  upon  being  ordered  by  me,  after  the  calling  of  all  hands, 
and  had  barely  reached  the  forecastle,  when  he  was  seized  by  the 
two  foreigners,  and  before  he  could  utter  more  than  one  cry, 
which  was  drowned  in  the  roaring  of  the  winds  and  waves,  was 
thrown  over  the  bow.  He  was  a  powerful  man  and  an  excellent 
swimmer.  The  topsails  of  the  ship  were  clewed  down  to  reef,  and 
her  way,  of  course,  considerably  lessened — and  in  an  instant,  he 
found  the  end  of  a  rope,  which  was  accidentally  towing  overboard, 
within  his  grasp,  by  which  he  dragged  in  the  dead  water  or  eddy, 
that  is  always  created  under  the  stern  of  a  vessel  while  sailing,* 
particularly  if  she  is  full  built  and  deeply  laden,  as  was  the  case 
with  this.  By  a  desperate  effort,  he  caught  one  of  the  rudder 
chains,  which  was  very  low,  and  drew  himself  by  it  upon  the  step 
or  jog  of  the  rudder,  where  he  had  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to 
remain  without  calling  out,  until  the  light  had  ceased  to  shine 
through  the  cabin  windows,  when  he  concluded  that  the  search 
for  him  was  over.  He  then  made  the  signal  to  me. 

No  being  in  the  ship,  but  myself,  was  apprised  of  his  safety: 
for  the  gale  had  increased  and  completely  drowned  the  sounds  of 
the  knocking,  opening  the  window,  &c.  before  they  could  reach 
the  quarter  deck;  and  there  was  no  one  in  the  cabin  but  our- 
selves, the  steward  having  retired  to  his  birth  in  the  steerage.  It 
was  at  once  resolved  that  the  second  mate  only  should  be  inform- 
ed of  his  existence.  He  immediately  betook  himself  to  erlarge 
vacant  state  room,  and,  for  the  remainder  of  the  passage,  all  his 
wants  were  attended  to  by  me.  Even  the  steward  was  allowed 
to  enter  the  cabin  as  rarely  as  possible. 

Nothing  of  note  occurred  during  the  remainder  of  the  voyage, 


144  LAMENT    FOR    LONG    TOM. 

which  was  prosperous.  It  seemed  that  the  foreigners  had  only 
bean  actuated  by  revenge  in  the  violence  they  had  committed;  for 
nothing  further  was  attempted  by  them.  "In  due  season  we  took 
a  pilot  in  the  channel,  and,  in  a  day  or  two,  entered  the  port  of 
Liverpool.  As  soon  as  the  proper  arrangements  were  made,  we 
commenced  warping  the  ship  into  dock,  and  while  engaged  in  this 
operation,  the  JMale  appeared  on  deck,  went  forward,  and  attended  to 
his  duties  as  usual!  A  scene  occurred  which  is  beyond  descrip- 
tion: every  feature  of  it  is  as  vivid  in  my  recollection  as  though 
it  occurred  but  yesterday,  and  will  be  to  my  latest  breath.  The 
warp  dropped  from  the  paralysed  hands  of  the  horror-stricken 
sailors,  and  had  it  not  been  taken  up  by  some  boatmen  on  board, 
I  should  have  been  compelled  to  anchor  again  and  procure  assist- 
ance from  the  shore.  Not  a  word  was  uttered;  but  the  two  guilty 
wretches  staggered  to  the  mainmast,  where  they  remained  petri- 
fied with  horror,  until  the  officer,  who  had  been  sent  for,  approach- 
ed to  take  them  into  custody.  They  then  seemed  in  a  measure 
to  be  recalled  to  a  sense  of  their  appalling  predicament,  and 
uttered  the  most  piercing  expressions  of  lamentation  and  despair. 
They  were  soon  tried,  and  upon  the  testimony  of  the  mate, 
capitally  convicted  and  executed. 


LAMENT  FOR  LONG  TOM. 
BY  J.  G.  C.  BRAINARD. 

Thy  cruise  is  over  now 

Thou  art  anchored  by  the  shore, 

And  never  more  shall  thou 

Hear  the  storm  around  thee  roar  ; 

Death  has  shaken  out  the  sands  of  thy  glass. 
Now  around  thee  sports  the  whale 
And  the  porpoise  snuffs  the  gale, 
And  the  night  winds  make  their  wail, 
As  they  pass. 

The  sea-grass  round  thy  bier 

Shall  bend  beneath  the  tide, 
Nor  tell  the  breakers  near, 

Where  thy  manly  limbs  abide  ; 
But  the  granite  rock  thy  tomb  shall  be. 

Though  the  edges  of  thy  grave 

Are  the  combings  of  the  wave — 

Yet  unheeded  they  shall  rave 
Over  thee. 

At  the  calling  of  all  hands, 

When  the  -udgment  signals  spread — 


THE    FATAL    REPAST.  145 

When  the  islands,  and  the  lands, 

And  tiie  seas  give  up  their  dead, 
And  the  south  and  the  north  shall  come  : 

When  the  sinner  is  betrayed, 

And  the  just  man  js  afraid, 

Then  may  Heaven  be  thy  aid, 
Poor  Tom. 


THE  FATAL  REPAST. 

We  had  been  nearly  five  weeks  at  sea,  when  the  captain  found, 
by  a  nautical  observation,  that  we  were  within  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  of  the  north  side  of  Jamaica.  Favorable  winds  and 
smooth  seas  had  hitherto  been  our  constant  attendants,  and  every 
thing  on  board  conspired  to  render  the  confinement  and  monotony 
of  a  Jong  voyage  less  annoying  than  they  usually  are.  The  cabin 

passengers  consisted  of  Major  and  Mrs.  L ,  a  new-married 

couple;  Miss  P ,  sister  to  the  latter;  Mr.  I) ,  a  young 

Irishman,  and  myself.  Our  captain  was  a  man  of  pleasing  man- 
ners and  liberal  ideas,  and  formed  an  important  acquisition  to  our 
party,  by  joining  in  all  its  recreations,  and  affording  every  facility 
to  the  indulgence  of  them.  Much  of  our  time  was  spent  in  con- 
versation, and  in  walking  on  deck;  and  when  the  dews  of  evening 
obliged  us  to  descend  to  the  cabin,  the  captain  would  often  enter- 
tain us  with  a  relation  of  the  various  dangers  which  he  and  other 
persons  had  encountered  at  sea,  or  detail,  with  great  gravity, 
some  of  the  prevailing  superstitions  of  sailors. 

Although  he  possessed  more  general  information  than  usually 
falls  to  the  lot  of  seafaring  persons,  his  mind  was  tinctured  with 
some  of  their  weaknesses  and  prejudices.  The  ladies  of  our 
party  had  a  great  taste  for  natural  history,  and  wished  to  obtain 
specimens  of  all  the  most  interesting  kinds  of  sea-birds.  They 
had  several  times  requested  the  captain  to  shoot  one  of  Mother 
Gary's  chickens,  that  they  might  take  a  drawing  from  it;  how- 
ever, he  always  declined  doing  so,  but  never  gave  any  satisfactory 
reason  for  his  unwillingness  to  oblige  them  in  this  respect.  At 

last,  Mr.  D killed  two  of  the  birds,  after  having  several  times 

missed  whole  flocks  of  them.  The  captain  seemed  very  much 
startled  when  he  saw  the  animals  drop  on  the  waves; — "  Will 
you  have  the  goodness  to  let  down  the  boat  to  pick  up  the  game?" 

said  Mr.  D .  "  Yes,  sir,"  replied  he,  "  if  you  '11  go  off  in 

her,  and  never  return  on  board  this  vessel — :Here  is  a  serious 
business — Be  assured  we  have  not  seen  the  end  of  it."  He  then 
walked  away  without  offering  to  give  any  orders  about  lowering 

13 


146  TIIE^  FATAL    REPAST, 

the  boat;  and  the  seamen,  who  witnessed  the  transaction    looked 
as  if  they  would  not  have  obeyed  him  had  he  even  done  so. 

Though  we  saw  no  land,  every  thing  proved  that  we  were  in 
the  West  India  seas.  The  sky  had^,  within  a  few  days,  begun  *to 
assume  a  more  dazzling  aspect,  and  long  ranges  of  conical 
shaped  clouds  floated  along  the  horizon.  Land  birds,  with  beau- 
tiful plumage,  often  hovered  round  the  vessel,  and  we  sometimes 
fancied  we  could  discover  a  vegetable  fragrance  in  the  breezes 
that  swelled  our  sails. 

One  delightful  clear  morning,  when  we  were  in  hourly  expect- 
ation of  making  the  land,  some  dolphin  appeared  astern.  As  the 
weather  was  very  moderate,  the  captain  proposed  that  we  should 
fish  for  them;  and  a  great  many  hooks  were  immediately  baited 
for  that  purpose  by  the  seamen.  We  caught  large  quantities  of 
dolphin,  and  of  another  kind  of  fish,  and  put  the  whole  into  the 
hands  of  the  steward,  with  orders  that  part  should  be  dressed  for 
dinner,  and  part  distributed  among  the  crew. 

When  the  dinner-hour  arrived,  we  all  assembled  in  the  cabin, 
in  high  spirits,  and  sat  down  to  table.  It  being  St.  George's  day, 
the  captain,  who  was  an  Englishman,  had  ordered  that  every  thing* 
should  be  provided  and  set  forth  in  the  most  sumptuous  style,  and 
the  steward  had  done  full  justice  to  his  directions.  We  made  the 
wines,  which  were  exquisite  and  abundant,  circulate  rapidly,  and 
every  glass  increased  our  gaiety  and  good  humor,  while  the  in- 
fluence of  our  mirth  rendered  the  ladies  additionally  amusing  and 
animated.  The  captain  remarked,  that  as  there  were  two  clarinet 
players  among  the  crew,  we  ought  to  have  a  dance  upon  the 
quarter-deck  at  sunset.  This  proposal  was  received  with  much 
delight,  particularly  by  the  females  of  our  party;  and  the  captain 
had  just  told  the  servant  in  waiting  to  bid  the  musicians  prepare 
themselves,  when  the  mate  entered  the  cabin,  and  said,  that  the 
man  at  the  helm  had  dropped  down  almost  senseless,  and  that 
another  of  the  crew  was  so  ill  that  he  could  scarcely  speak. 

The  captain,  on  receiving  this  information,  grew  very  pale,  and 
seemed  at  a  loss  what  to  reply.  At  last,  he  started  from  his  chair, 
and  hurried  up  the  gangway.  Our  mirth  ceased  in  a  moment, 
though  none  of  us  appeared  to  know  why;  but  the  minds  of  all 
were  evidently  occupied  by  what  they  had  just  heard,  and  Major 

L remarked,  with  a  faultering   voice,  that  seamen  were  very 

liable  to  be  taken  suddenly  ill  in  hot  climates. 

After  a  little  time,  we  sent  the  servant  to  inquire  what  was 
going  forward  on  deck.  He  returned  immediately,  and  informed 
us  that  the  two  sailors  were  worse,  and  that  a  third  had  just  been 
attacked  in  the  same  way.  He  had  scarcely  said  these  words, 

when  Mrs.  L gave  a  shriek,  and  cried  out  that  her  sister  had 

fainted  away.     This  added  to  our  confusion  and   alarm;   and  the 

Major  and  Mr.  D trembled  so,  that  they  were  hardly  able  to 

convey  the  young  lady  to  her  state-room. 


THE    FATAL    REPAST.  147 

All  conversation  was  now  at  an  end,  and  no  cne  uttered  a  word 

til)  Mrs.  L returned  from  her  sister's  apartment.  While  we 

were  inquiring  how  the  latter  was,  the  captain  entered  the  cabin 
in  a  state  of  great  agitation.  "  This  is  a  dreadful  business,"  said 
he.  "  The  fact  is — it  is  my  duty  to  tell  you — I  fear  we  are  all 
poisoned  by  the  fish  we  have  ate — One  of  the  crew  died  a  few 
minutes  since,  and  five  others  are  dangerously  ill." 

"Poisoned!  my  God!  Do  you  say  so?  Must  we  all  die?" 

exclaimed  Mrs.  L •,  dropping  on  her  knees.  ".What  is  to  be 

done?"  cried  the  Major  distractedly;  "are  there  no  means  of 
counteracting  it?" — "  None  that  I  know  of,"  returned  the  captain. 
"All  remedies  are  vain.  The  poison  is  always  fatal,  except — 
but  I  begin  to  feel  its  effects — support  me — can  this  be  imagina- 
tion?" He  staggered  to  one  side,  and  would  have  fallen  upon 

the  floor,  had  not  I  assisted  him.  Mrs.  L ,  notwithstanding 

his  apparent  insensibility,  clung  to  his  arm,  crying  out,  in  a  tone 
of  despair,  "  Is  there  no  help — no  pity — no  one  to  save  us?" 
and  then  fainted  away  on  her  husband's  bosom,  who,  turning  to 
me.  said,  with  quivering  lips,  "  You  are  a  happy  man;  you  have 
nothing  to  imbitter  your  last  moments — Oh,  Providence!  was  I 
permitted  to  escape  so  many  dangers,  merely  that  I  might  suffer 
this  misery?" 

Mrs.  L soon  regained  her  senses,  and  I  endeavored  to 

calm  her  agitation  by  remarking,  that  we  might  possibly  escape 
the  fatal  influence  of  the  poison,  as  some  constitutions  were  not 
so  easily  affected  by  it  as  others.  "  Is  there  then  a  little  hope?" 
she  exclaimed.  "  Oh!  God  grant  it* may  be  so!  How  dreadful 
to  die  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  far  from  friends  and  home,  and 
then  to  be  thrown  into  the  deep!" — "  There  is  one  thing,"  said 
the  captain,  faintly,  "  I  was  going  to  tell  you,  that — but  this  sen- 
sation— I  mean  a  remedy." — "  Speak  on,"  cried  the  major,  in 
breathless  suspense.  "  It  may  have  a  chance  of  saving  you," 
continued  the  former;  "you  must  immediately" — He  gave  a 
deep  sigh,  and  dropped  his  head  upon  his  shoulder,  apparently 
unable  to  utter  a  word  more.  "Oh,  this  is  the  worst  of  all!" 

cried  Mrs.  L in  agony;  "he  was  on  the  point  of  telling  us 

how  to  counteract  the  effects  of  the  poison — Was  it  heavenly 
mercy  that  deprived  him  of  the  power  of  speech?  Can  it  be 
called  mercy?" — "  Hush,  hush!  you  rave,"  returned  her  husband. 
lc  We  have  only  to  be  resigned  now — Let  us  at  least  die  together. " 

The  crew  had  dined  about  an  hour  and  a  half  before  us,  and 
consequently  felt  the  effects  of  the  poison  much  earlier  than  we 
did.  Every  one,  however,  now  began  to  exhibit  alarming  symp- 
toms. Mr.  D became  delirious;  the  major  lay  upon  the 

cabin  floor  in  a  state  of  torpidity;  and  the  captain  had  drowned  all 
sense  and  recollection  by  drinking  a  large  quantity  of  brandy. 

Mrs.  L watched  her  husband  and  her  sister  alternately,  in  a 

state  of  quiet  despair. 


148  THE    FATAL    REPAST. 

I  was  comparatively  but  little  affected,  and  therefore  employed 
myself  in  assisting  others  until  they  seemed  to  be  past  all  relief, 
and  then  sat  down,  anticipating  the  horrid  consequences  which 
would  result  from  the  death  of  the  whole  ship's  company. 

While  thus  occupied,  I  heard  the  steersman  call  out,  "  Taken 
all  aback  here."  A  voice,  which  I  knew  to  be  the  mate's,  imme- 
diately answered,  "  Well,  and  what 's  that  to  us?  Put  her  before 
the  wind,  and  let  her  go  where  she  pleases."  I  soon  perceived, 
by  the  rushing  of  the  water,  that  there  was  a  great  increase  in 
the  velocity  of  the  ship's  progress,  and  went  upon  deck  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause. 

I  found  the  mate  stretched  upon  the  top  of  the  companion,  and 
addressed  him,  but  he  made  no  reply.  The  man  at  the  helm 
was  tying  a  rope  round  the  tiller,  and  told  me  he  had  become  so 
blind  and  dizzy,  that  he  could  neither  steer,  nor  see  the  compass, 
and  would  therefore  fix  the  rudder  in  such  a  manner,  as  would 
keep  the  ship's  head  as  near  the  wind  as  possible.  On  going 
forward  to  the  bows,  I  found  the  crew  lying  motionless  in  every 
direction.  They  were  either  insensible  of  the  dangerous  situa- 
tion in  which  our  vessel  was,  or  totally  indifferent  to  it;  and  all 
my  representations  on  this  head  failed  to  draw  forth  an  intelligi- 
ble remark  from  any  of  them.  Our  ship  carried  a  great  press 
of  canvass,  the  lower  studding  sails  being  set,  for  we  had  enjoyed 
a  gentle  breeze  directly  astern,  before  the  wind  headed  us  in  the 
way  already  mentioned. 

About  an  hour  after  sunset,  almost  every  person  on  board 
seemed  to  have  become  worse.  I  alone  retained  my  senses  un- 
impaired. The  wind  now  blew  very  fresh,  and  we  went  through 
the  water  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an  hour.  The  night  looked 
dreary  and  turbulent.  The  sky  was  covered  with  large  fleeces 
of  broken  clouds,  and  the  stars  flashed  angrily  through  them,  as 
they  were  wildly  hurried  along  by  the  blast.  The  sea  began  to 
run  high,  and  the  masts  showed,  by  their  incessant  creaking, 
that  they  carried  more  sail  than  they  could  well  sustain. 

.1  stood  alone  abaft  the  binnacle.  Nothing  could  be  heard 
ab.->ve  or  below  deck,  but  the  dashing  of  the  surges,  and  the 
meanings  of  the  wind.  All  the  people  on  board  were  to  me  the 
same  as  dead;  and  I  was  tossed  about,  in  the  vast  expanse  of 
waters,  without  a  companion  or  fellow-sufferer.  I  knew  not 
what  might  be  my  fate,  or  where  I  should  be  carried.  The  ves- 
sel, as  it  careered  along  the  raging  deep,  uncontrolled  by  human 
hands,  seemed  under  the  guidance  of  a  relentless  demon,  to 
whose  caprices  its  ill-fated  crew  had  been  mysteriously  consigned 
by  some  superior  power. 

I  \vas  filled  with  dread  lest  we  should  strike  upon  rocks,  or 
run  ashore,  and  often  imagined  that  the  clouds  which  bordered 
the  horizon  were  the  black  cliffs  of  some  desolate  coast.  At 
la>t,  I  distinctly  saw  a  light  at  some  distance — I  anticipated  in- 


THE    FATAL    REPAST.  149 

stant  destruction — I  grew  irresolute  whether  to  remain  upon 
deck,  and  face  death,  or  to  wait  for  it  below.  1  soon  discovered 
a  ship  a  little  way  ahead — I  instinctively  ran  to  the  helm,  and 
loosed  the  rope  that  tied  the  tiller,  which  at  once  bounded  back, 
and  knocked  me  over.  A  horrible  crashing,  and  loud  cries,  now 
broke  upon  my  ear,  and  I  saw  that  we  had  got  entangled  with 
another  vessel.  But  the  velocity  with  which  we  swept  along, 
rendered  our  extrication  instantaneous;  and,  on  looking  back.  I 
saw  a  ship,  without  a  bowsprit,  pitching  irregularly  among  the 
waves,  and  heard  the  rattling  of  cordage,  and  a  tumult  of  voices. 
But,  after  a  little  time,  nothing  was  distinguishable  by  the  eye 
or  by  the  ear.  My  situation  appeared  doubly  horrible,  when  I 
reflected  that  I  had  just  been  within  call  of  human  creatures, 
who  might  have  saved  and  assisted  all  on  board,  had  not  an  evil 
destiny  hurried  us  along,  and  made  us  the  means  of  injuring 
those  who  alone  were  capable  of  affording  us  relief. 

About  midnight,  our  fore  top-mast  gave  way,  and  fell  upon 
deck  with  a  tremendous  noise.  The  ship  immediately  swung 
round,  and  began  to  labor  in  a  terrible  manner,  while  several 
waves  broke  ovefpier  successively. 

I  had  just  resolved  to  descend  the  gangway  for  shelter,  when 
a  white  figure  rushed  past  me  with  a  wild  shriek,  and  sprung 
overboard.  I  saw  it  struggling  among  the  billows,  and  tossing 
about  its  arms  distractedly,  but  had  no  means  of  affording  it  any 
assistance.  I  watched  it  for  some  time,  and  observed  its  con- 
vulsive motions  gradually  grow  more  feeble;  but  its  form  soon 
became  undistinguishable  amidst  the  foam  of  the  bursting  waves. 
The  darkness  prevented  me  from  discovering  who  had  thus  com- 
mitted himself  to  the  deep,  in  a  moment  of  madness,  and  I  felt 
a  strong  repugnance  at  attempting  to  ascertain  it,  and  rather 
wished  it  might  have  been  some  spectre,  or  the  offspring  of  my 
perturbed  imagination,  than  a  human  being. 

As  the  sea  continued  to  break  over  the  vessel,  I  went  down  to 
the  cabin,  after  having  closelv  shut  the  gangway  doors  and  com- 
panion. Total  darkness  prevailed  below.  I  addressed  the  cap- 
tain and  all  my  fellow  passengers  by  name,  but  received  no  reply 
from  any  of  them,  though  I  sometimes  fancied  I  heard  moans 
and  quick  breathing,  when  the  tumult  of  waters  without  happen- 
ed to  subside  a  little.  But  I  thought  that  it  was  perhaps  imagi- 
nation, and  that  they  were  probably  all  dead.  I  began  to  catch 
for  breath,  and  felt  as  if  I  had  been  immured  in  a  large  coffin 
along  with  a  number  of  corpses,  and  was  doomed  to  linger  out 
life  beside  them.  The  sea  beat  against  the  vessel  with  a  noise 
like  that  of  artillery,  and  the  crashing  of  the  bulwarks,  driven  in 
by  its  violence,  gave  startling  proof  of  the  danger  that  threatened 
us.  Having  several  times  been  dashed  against  the  walls  and 
transoms  of  the  cabin  by  the  violent  pitching  of  the  ship,  I  grop- 

13* 


50  THE    FATAL    REPAST. 

ed  for  my  bed,  and  lay  down  in  it,  and,  notwithstanding  the  hor- 
rors that  surrounded  me,  gradually  dropped  asleep. 

When  I  awaked,  I  perceived,  by  the  sunbeams  that  shone 
through  the  skylight,  that  the  morning  was  far  advanced.  The 
ship  rolled  violently  at  intervals,  but  the  noise  of  wind  and  waves 
had  altogether  ceased.  I  got  up  hastily,  and  almost  dreaded  to 
look  round,  lest  I  should  find  my  worst  anticipations  concerning 
my  companions  too  fatally  realized. 

I  immediately  discovered  the  captain  lying  on  one  side  of  the 

cabin  quite  dead.  Opposite  him  was  Major  L ,  stretched 

alon*  the  floor,  and  grasping  firmly  the  handle  of  the  door  of 
his  wife's  apartment.  He  looked  like  a  dying  man,  and  Mrs. 

!<, ,  who  sat  beside  him,  seemed  to  be  exhausted  with  grief 

and  terror.  She  tried  to  speak  several  times,  and  at  last  suc- 
ceeded in  informing  me  that  her  sister  was  better.  I  could  not 

discover  Mr.  D any  where,  and  therefore  concluded  that 

he  was  the  person  who  had  leaped  overboard  the  preceding 
night. 

On  going  upon  deck,  I  found  that  every  thing  wore  a  new 
aspect.  The  sky  was  dazzling  and  cloudless,®id  not  the  faint- 
est breath  of  wind  could  be  felt.  The  sea  had  a  beautiful  bright 
green  color,  and  was  calm  as  a  small  lake,  except  when  an  oc- 
casional swell  rolled  from  that  quarter  in  which  the  wind  had 
been  the  preceding  night;  and  the  water  was  so  clear,  that  I 
saw  to  the  bottom,  and  even  distinguished  little  fishes  sporting 
around  the  keel  of  our  vessel. 

Four  of  the  seamen  were  dead,  but  the  mate  and  the  remain- 
ing three  had  so  far  recovered,  as  to  be  able  to  walk  across  the 
deck.  The  ship  was  almost  in  a  disabled  state.  Part  of  the 
wreck  of  the  fore  top-mast  lay  upon  her  bows,  and  the  rigging 
and  sails  of  the  mainmast  had  suffered  much  injury.  The  mate 
told  me,  that  the  soundings,  and  almost  every  thing  else,  proved 
we  were  on  the  Bahama  banks,  though  he  had  not  yet  ascertain- 
ed on  what  part  of  them  we  lay,  and  consequently  could  not  say 
whether  we  had  much  chance  of  soon  falling  in  with  any  vessel. 

The  day  passed  gloomily.  They  regarded  every  cloud  that 
rose  upon  the  horizon  as  the  forerunner  of  a  breeze,  which  we 
above  all  things  feared  to  encounter.  Much  of  our  time  was 
employed  in  preparing  for  the  painful  but  necessary  duty  of  in- 
terring the  dead.  The  carpenter  soon  got  ready  a  sufficient 
number  of  boards;  to  each  of  which  we  bound  one  of  the  corpses, 
and  also  weights  enough  to  make  it  sink  to  the  bottom. 

About  ten  at  night,  we  began  to  commit  the  bodies  to  the 
deep.  A  dead  calm  had  prevailed  the  whole  day,  and  not  a 
cloud  obscured  the  sky.  The  sea  reflected  the  stars  so  distinctly, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  we  were  consigning  our  departed  compan- 
ions to  a  heaven  as  resplendent  as  that  above  us.  There  was  an 
awful  solemnity,  alike  in  the  scene  and  in  our  situation.  I  read 


THE   FATAL    REPAST.  151 

the  funeral  service,  and  then  we  dropped  the  corpses  overboard, 
one  after  another.  The  sea  sparkled  around  each,  as  its  sullen 
plunge  announced  that  the  waters  were  closing  over  it,  and  they 
all  slowly  and  successively  descended  to  the  bottom,  enveloped 
in  a  ghastly  glimmering  brightness,  which  enabled  us  to  trace 
their  progress  through  the  motionless  deep.  When  these  last 
offices  of  respect  were  performed,  we  retired  in  silence  to  differ- 
^nt  parts  of  the  ship. 

About  midnight,  the  mate  ordered  the  men  to  cast  anchor, 
which,  till  then,  they  had  not  been  able  to  accomplish.  They 
likewise  managed  to  furl  most  of  the  sails,  and  we  went  to  bed, 
under  the  consoling  idea,  that  though  a  breeze  did  spring  up,  our 
moorings  would  enable  us  to  weather  it  without  any  risk. 

J  was  routed  early  next  morning  by  a  confused  noise  upon 
deck.  When  I  got  there,  I  found  the  men  gazing  intently  over 
the  side  of  the  ship,  and  inquired  if  our  anchor  held  fast. — "  Ay, 
ay,"  returned  one  of  them,  "  rather  faster  than  we  want  it."  On 
approaching  the  bulwarks,  and  looking  down,  I  perceived,  to  my 
horror  and  astonishment,  all  the  corpses  lying  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sea,  as  if  they  had  just  been  dropped  into  it. 

We  were  now  exempted  from  the  ravages  and  actual  presence 
of  death,  but  his  form  haunted  us  without  intermission.  We 
hardly  dared  to  look  over  the  ship's  side,  lest  our  eyes  should 
encounter  the  ghastly  features  of  some  one  who  had  formerly 
been  a  companion,  and  at  whose  funeral  rights  we  had  recently 
assisted.  The  seamen  began  to  murmur  among  themselves,  say- 
ing that  we  would  never  be  able  to  leave  the  spot  where  we  then 
were,  and  that  our  vessel  would  remain  there  and  rot. 

In  the  evening  a  strong  breeze  sprung  up,  and  filled  us  with 
hopes  that  some  vessel  would  soon  come  in  sight,  and  afford  us 
relief.  At  sunset,  when  the  mate  was  giving  directions  about 
the  watch,  one  of  the  seamen  cried  out,  "  Thank  Heaven,  there 
they  are."  And  the  other  ran  up  to  him  saying,  "Where, 
where?"  He  .pointed  to  a  flock  of  Mother  Carey's  chickens 
that  had  just  appeared  astern,  and  began  to  count  how  many 
there  were  of  them.  I  inquired  what  was  the  matter,  and  the 
mate  replied,  "  Why,  only  that  we've  seen  the  worst,  that  's  all, 
master.  I've  a  notion  we'll  fall  in  with  a  sail  before  twenty 
hours  are  past." — "  Have  you  any  particular  reason  for  think- 
ing so?"  said  I.  "To  be  sure  I  have,"  returned  he,  "Aren't 
them  there  birds  an  omen  of  returning  good  fortune." — "  I  have 
always  understood,"  said  I,  "that  these  birds  indicate  bad 
weather,  or  some  unfortunate  event,  and  this  appears  to  me  to 
be  true." — "Ay,  ay,"  replied  he,  "  they  say  experience  teaches 
fools,  and  I  have  found  it  so;  there  was  a  time  when  I  did  not 
believe  that  these  creatures  were  any  thing  but  common  birds, 
but  now  I  know  another  story — Oh  I've  witnessed  such  strange 
things!" 


152  THE    FATAL    HEPAST. 

Next  morning  I  was  awakened  by  the  joyful  intelligence  thai 
a  schooner  was  in  sight,  and  that  she  had  hoisted  her  flag  in  an- 
swer to  our  signals.  She  bore  down  upon  us  with  a  good  wind, 
and  in  about  an  hour  hove  to,  and  spoke  us.  When  we  had  in- 
formed them  of  our  unhappy  situation,  the  captain  ordered  the 
boat  to  be  lowered,  and  came  on  board  of  our  vessel,  with  three 
of  his  crew.  He  was  a  thick,  short,  dark-complexioned  man,  and 
his  language  and  accent  discovered  him  to  be  a  native  of  the 
southern  states  of  America.  The  mate  immediately  proceeded  to 
detail  minutely  all  that  happened  to  us,  but  our  visiter  paid  very 
little  attention  to  the  narrative,  and  soon  interrupted  it,  by  asking 
of  what  our  cargo  consisted.  Having  been  satisfied  on  this  point, 
he  said,  "  Seeing  as  how  things  stand,  I  conclude  you'll  be  keen 
for  getting  into  some  port." — "  Yes,  that  of  course  is  our  earnest 
wish,"  replied  the  mate,  "  and  we  hope  to  be  able  by  your  assist- 
ance to  accomplish  it." — "Ay,  we  must  all  assist  one  another," 
returned  the  captain — "Well,  I  was  just  calculating,  that  your 
plan  would  be  to  run  into  New  Providence — I'm  bound  for  St. 
Thomas's,  and  you  can't  expect  that  I  should  turn  about,  and  go 
right  back  with  you — neither  that  I  should  let  you  have  any  of 
my  seamen,  for  I'll  not  be  able  to  make  a  good  trade  unless  I  get 
slick  into  port.  Now  I  have  three  nigger  slaves  on  board  of  me, 
— curse  them,  they  don't  know  much  about  sea-matters,  and  are 
as  lazy  as  h — 1,  but  keep  flogging  them,  mister, — keep  flogging 
them  I  say, — by  which  means,  you  will  make  them  serve  your 
ends.  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I  will  let  you  have  them  blacks  to 
help  you,  if  you  '11  buy  them  of  me  at  a  fair  price,  and  pay  it  down 
in  hard  cash." — "  This  proposal,"  said  the  mate,  "  sounds  strange 
enough  to  a  British  seaman; — -and  how  much  do  you  ask  for  your 
slaves?"  "  I  can't  let  them  go  under  three  hundred  dollars  each," 
replied  the  captain,  "  I  guess  they  would  fetch  more  in  St. 
Thomas's,  for  they  're  prime,  blow  me." — "Why,  there  is'nt 
that  sum  of  money  on  board  this  vessel,  that  I  know  of,"  answered 
the  mate;  "  and  though  I  could  pay  it  myself,  I  'm  sure  the  own- 
ers never  would  agree  to  indemnify  me.  I  thought  you  would 
have  afforded  us  every  assistance  without  asking  any  thing  in 
return, — a  true  sailor  would  have  done  so  at  least." — "  Well,  I 
vow  you  are  a  strange  man,"  said  the  captain.  "Is'nt  it  fair 
that  I  should  get  something  for  my  niggers,  and  for  the  chance 
I'  11  run  of  spoiling  my  trade  at  St.  Thomas's,  by  making  myself 
short  of  men?  But  we  shan't  split  about  a  small  matter,  and  I  '11 
lessen  the  price  by  twenty  dollars  a  head." — "It  is  out  of  the 
question,  sir,"  cried  the  mate,  "  I  have  no  money," — "  Oh  there's 
no  harm  done,"  returned  the  captain,  "we  can't  trade,  that's 
all.  Get  ready  the  boat,  boys — I  guess  your  men  will  soon  get 
smart  again,  and  then,  if  the  weather  holds  moderate,  you  '11 
reach  port  with  the  greatest  ease." — "  You  surely  do  not  mean 
to  leave  us  in  this  barbarous  way?"  cried  I  ;  "  the  owners  of  this 


CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXON,  153 

vessel  would,  I  am  confident,  pay  any  sum  rather  than  that  we 
should  perish  through  your  inhumanity." — "  Well,  mister,  I  've 
got  owners  too,"  replied  he,  "  and  my  business  is  to  make  a  good 
Voyage  for  them.  Markets  are  pretty  changeable  just  now,  and 
it  won't  do  to  spend  time  talking  about  humanity — money  's  the 
word  with  me." 

Having  said  this,  he  leaped  into  the  boat,  and  ordered  his  men 
to  row  towards  his  own  vessel. ,  As  soon  as  they  got  on  board, 
they  squared  their  topsail,  and  bore  away,  and  were  soon  out  of 
the  reach  of  our  voices.  We  looked  at  one  another  for  a  little 
time  with  an  expression  of  quiet  despair,  and  then  the  seamen 
began  to  pour  forth  a  torrent  of  invectives,  and  abuse,  against  the 
heartless  and  avaricious  shipmaster  who  had  inhumanly  deserted 
us.  Major  L — —  and  his  wife,  being  in  the  cabin  below,  heard  all 
that  passed.  When  the>  captain  first  came  on  board,  they  were 
filled  with  rapture,  thinking  that  we  would  certainly  be  delivered 
from  the  perils  and  difficulties  that  environed  us;  but  as  the  con- 
versation proceeded,  their  hopes  gradually  diminished,  and  the 

conclusion  of  it  made  Mrs.  L give  way  to  a  flood  of  tears,  in 

which  I  found  her  indulging  when  I  went  below. 

The  mate  now  endeavored  to  encourage  the  seamen  to  exertion. 
They  cleared  away  the  wreck  of  the  fore-top-mast  which  had 
hitherto  encumbered  the  deck,  and  hoisted  a  sort  of  jury-mast  in 
its  stead,  on  which  they  rigged  two  sails.  When  these  things 
were  accomplished,  we  weighed  anchor,  and  laid  our  course  for 
New  Providence.  The  mate  had  fortunately  been  upon  the  Ba- 
hama seas  before,  and  was  aware  of  the  difficulties  he  would  have 
to  encounter  in  navigating  them.  The  weather  continued  mode- 
rate, and  after  two  days  of  agitating  suspense,  we  made  Exuma 
Island,  and  cast  anchor  near  its  shore. 


CAPTAINS  PORTLOCK  AND  DIXON. 

This  voyage  was  undertaken  for  the  purposes  of  commerce; 
principally,  indeed,  for  the  fur-trade,  on  the  north-west  coast  of 
America,  which  had  been  strongly  recommended  by  Captains 
Cook  and  King  in  their  last  voyage.  Two  vessels  were  fitted  out 
for  this  purpose,  the  King  George  and  Queen  Charlotte,  by  a 
society  of  merchants  and  others,  the  former  commanded  by  Na- 
thaniel Portlock,  the  latter  by  George  Dixon,  both  of  whom  had 
been  with  Captain  Cook;  the  King  George  having  sixty  men,  the 
Queen  Charlotte  thirty. 

September  20th  they  quitted  St.  Helens,  and,  proceeding  to 


154  CAPTAINS    PORTLOCE    AND    DIXON. 

Guernsey,  !eft  it  on  the  25th.  October  16th  saw  the  Canary 
Islands,  ami  24th  the  Cape  de  Verde  group,  anchoring  for  a  short 
time  in  Port  Praya  Bay,  in  St.  Jago.  Proceeding  south,  they 
anchored  in  Port  Egmont,  Falkland's  Islands,  January  5th,  1786, 
where,  taking  in  water,  they  made  sail  for  States  Bay,  in  Terra 
del  Fuego.  Having  made  a  good  offing  from  Cape  Horn,  they 
had  tolerable  weather;  and  continuing  their  route  without  touch- 
ing at  any  place,  or  meeting  with  any  thing  worthy  of  notice, 
dropped  anchor  26th  May  in  Karakooa  Bay,  in  Owhyhee,  Sand- 
wich Islands. 

The  natives  crowded  them  very  much,  bartering  a  variety  of 
articles;  but  were  nevertheless  extremely  troublesome.  It  was 
the  general  opinion,  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  water  the  ves- 
sels without  a  strong  guard,  which  they  could -not  well  spare; 
while  the  people  were  probably  jealous  that  these  vessels  were 
come  to  revenge  the  death  of  Captain  Cook.  Next  day  they 
stood  out  of  the  bay,  lying-to  three  leagues  off,  to  carry  on  trade 
for  hogs,  plantains,  taro,  &cc.  Stc.  which  proved  so  serviceable  that 
the  sick,  of  whom  there  were  several,  began  rapidly  to  recover. 
June  1st  anchored  in  a  bay  in  Woahoo,  another  of  the  islands, 
and  were  received  very  civilly  by  the  inhabitants.  They  now 
stood  for  another  of  the  islands,  named  Oneehow;  and,  on  the  8th, 
anchored  in  yam  Bay,  where  supplies  of  fruit,  vegetables,  and 
pigs,  were  willingly  afforded  by  the  principal  chief  Abbenooe, 
who  seemed  strongly  their  friend,  from  recollecting  Captain  Port- 
lock  along  with  Cook.  They  took  leave  of  him,  with  regret,  on 
the  13th,  standing  for  the  coast  of  America. 

July  19th  made  the  entrance  of  Cook's  River;  and,  while  look- 
ing for  good  anchorage,  were  astonished  by  the  report  of  a  great 
gun;  when,  soon  afterwards,  a  party  of  Russians  came  on-board, 
attended  by  some  Indians;  but  none  understanding  the  language 
of  either,  no  satisfactory  information  could  be  gained  from  them. 
Most  of  the  natives  had  fled  from  their  huts,  alarmed  perhaps  by 
the  Russians;  several  bears  were  seen,  but  none  near  enough  to 
fire  at.  Two  veins  of  kennel-coal  were  found,  which  burned  very 
well,  and  the  place  was,  therefore,  called  Coal  Harbor.  An  el- 
derly chief  paying  Captain  Dixon  a  visit,  informed  him  that  they 
had  a  battle  with  the  Russians,  in  which  the  latter  were  worsted, 
and  added,  that,  from  the  difference  of  dress,  he  knew  they  were 
of  a  different  nation. 

Quitting  this  place,  they  tried  for  some  time  to  get  into  Prince 
William's  Sound;  but,  by  a  series  of  unfavorable  winds,  failed  in 
this  pursuit.  September  23rd,  they  stood  away  for  the  Sandwich 
Islands  to  pass  the  winter,  and  return  in  the  spring.  November 
14th  saw  the  summit  ofthe  high  mountain  in  Owhyhee  covered  with 
snow,  and  employed  two  or  three  following  days  in  coasting  it,  the 
natives  bringing  off  a  variety  of  articles  to  barter  for  iron  and 
trinkets.  The  first  mate  ofthe  King  George  reporting,  that  a  bay 


CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXOff.  156 

they  intended  to  anchor  in  did  not  admit  of  good  anchorage,  this 
design  was  dropped.  During  the  time  they  lay  to,  hogs,  fowls, 
wild-geese,  bread-fruit,  plantains,  and  several  other  things  were 
procured  in  considerable  quantities;  the  natives  dealing  pretty 
fairly,  but  committing  a  variety  of  thefts,  even  before  their  faces, 
with  a  dexterity  almost  inimitable.  For  several  days  they  con- 
tinued lying  to  off  the  islands  of  Mowee  and  Morotoi,  procuring 
refreshments  and  receiving  visits  till  the  30th,  when  both  ships 
bore  away  for  King  George's  Bay,  in  Whoaboo,  where  they  an- 
chored in  safety,  after  experiencing  a  variety  of  winds  from  all 
points  of  the  compass. 

Here  they  found  every  thing  tabooed,  or  forbidden,  so  that  it 
became  necessary  to  court  the  king's  favor;  for  which  purpose  a 
present  was  sent  to-  him,  and  another  to  a  priest,  their  acquain- 
tance on  the  former  occasion,  who  paid  them  a  visit,  handing  up 
a  fig  and  plantain,  which  in  these  islands  are  signs  of  friendship. 
This  was  soon  followed  by  a  visit  from  Taheeterre,  the  king,  fol- 
lowed by  all  the  chiefs,  who  took  off  the  taboo.  The  priest  was 
remarkable  for  drinking  large  quantities  of  the  ava,  or  yava-juice, 
for  which  he  had  two  men  in  constant  attendance  chewing  the 
root,  which,  with  their  spittle,  forms  this  singular  and  (to  us) 
nauseous  beverage.  The  yava  is  a  root  resembling  liquorice  in 
shape  and  color.  None  but  the  chiefs  and  priests  have  permission 
to  use  it,  and  these  are  never  at  the  trouble  of  chewing  it  them- 
selves; but,  as  above  observed,  employ  servants;  these  begin  with 
chewing  a  sufficient  quantity,  and  when  well  masticated,  it  is  put 
into  a  wooden  bowl  kept  for  the  purpose,  to  which  a  small  quantity 
of  water  is  added;  the  whole  is  then  strained  through  a  cloth,  and, 
like  wine  in  Europe,  it  thus  forms  not  merely  the  drink,  but  the 
delight  of  all  parties,  feasts,  rejoicings,  and,  in  short,  every  public 
assemblage  of  the  leading  people.  Its  effects,  however,  are  very 
pernicious;  it  is  partly  intoxicating  or  rather  stupifying;  and,  by 
its  constant  use,  the  old  priest  was  exceedingly  debilitated,  and  his 
body  covered  by  a  white  scurf,  resembling  the  leprosy,  which  is 
a  common  symptom  throughout  the  South  Sea  islands  of  its  fre- 
quent use. 

The  taboo  was  again  put  on  without  any  explanation  being 
given,  though  several  canoes  nevertheless  came  off,  but  without 
any  women,  as  had  been  formerly  the  case.  Afterwards  it  was 
understood  that  one  of  them  had  been  detected  in  the  King  George 
eating  Pork,  which  being  a  heinous  offence,  she  was  taken  as  soon 
as  she  came  on  shore,  and  offered  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods:  human 
sacrifices,  it  appears,  are  here,  as  in  most  parts  of  the  South  Sea 
islands,  frequently  presented,  and  it  is  unquestionably  the  most 
inhuman  and  barbarous  custom  among  them. 

December  19th  weighed,  and  two  days  afterwards  anchored 
between  Attqui  and  Wymea,  where,  after  paying  and  receiving 
some  visits,  their  former  friend  Abbenooe  came  on  board  with 


156  CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXON. 

two  canoes  loaded  with  provisions,  and  remained  for  two  or  three 
days,  seemingly  very  well  pleased  with  his  new  abode.  The 
king  also  made  his  appearance;  he  was  stout  and  well-made, 
about  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  possessed  of  more  understand- 
ing and  good-nature  than  any  of  his  subjects.  January  5th 
caught  a  shark  in  the  King  Geerge,  thirteen  and  a  half  feet  long, 
eight  and  a  half  broad,  and  six  feet  in  the  liver;  forty-eight  young 
ones  were  in  her,  about  eight  inches  each  in  length;  two  whole 
turtles  of  sixty  pounds  each;  several  small  pigs,  and  a  quantity 
of  bones;  so  that  the  numbers  and  the  voracity  of  this  fish  may 
be  conceived.  From  this  time  to  the  10th  they  were  employed 
in  purchasing  wood,  water,  provisions,  curiosities,  and  every  thing 
else  they  wanted;  and  now,  .quitting  the  anchorage,  proceeded 
to  yam  Bay,  in  Oneehow,  where,  after  making  a  few  excursions, 
they  departed  once  more  for  Wymoa  Bay,  Attoui. 

On  the  3d  March  weighed,  and  made  sail  for  the  coast  of 
America,  and  on  the  24th  April  saw  Montager  Island,  coming 
to  anchor  in  the  harbor,  where  there  is  sufficient  shelter  from  the 
prevailing  winds.  The  weather  continued  very  variable,  several 
unsuccessful  attempts  being  made  to  get  into  Prince  Williams 
Sound,  and  only  a  single  straggling  inhabitant  being  seen  now 
and  then,  so  that  there  was  no  opportunity  to  trade. 

Captain  Dixon  now  made  an  excursion  in  his  boats  up  the 
Sound,  and  receiving  some  hints  frpm  the  natives  of  a  vessel  be- 
ing there,  continued  his  search  for  several  days,  and  at  length 
got  on  board  a  vessel  called  the  Nootka,  from  Bengal,  commanded 
by  Mr.  Meares,  which  had  wintered  in  Snug-corner  Cove.  The 
scurvy  had  made  dreadful  havoc  among  them,  nearly  all  the 
officers  and  many  of  the  crew  having  died  of  this  frightful  disorder, 
so  that  at  length  the  Captain  was  thv  only  person  on  board  able 
to  walk  the  deck.  Along  with  his  first  mate  he  soon  afterwards 
visited  the  ships,  met  with  a  hearty  reception,  and  received  such 
assistance  as  he  wanted  and  as  the  others  could  afford  From 
him  they  learned  that  few  or  no  furs  could  be  procured  here;  that 
several  vessels  from  India  had  been  already  on  this  coast  for  the 
purposes  of  trade;  and  that  two  or  three  were  expected  next 
month  in  the  same  pursuit,  which  immediately  determined  our 
voyagers  to  separate  and  push  for  different  parts  of  the  coast,  in 
order  to  be  before  their  expected  rivals;  the  Queen  Charlotte  to 
proceed  to  King  George's  Sound,  and  Messrs.  Hayward  and 
Hill  to  Cook's  River  in  the  King  George's  long-boat,  the  latter 
to  remain  where  she  was  for  the  present. 

On  the  13th  May  several  «anoes  visited  them,  in  one  of  which 
was  a  chief  of  great  consequence,  named  Sheenaawa,  whose  party, 
like  most  others,  were  determined  thieves,  exerting  their  ingenuity 
and  tricks  for  this  purpose  in  an  extraordinary  degree.  They 
danced,  sung,  laughed,  and  diverted  the  attention  of  the  seamen 
in  every  possible  way,  while  slyly  their  hands  were  seizing  every 


CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXON.  157 

thing  on  the  decks,  so  that  literally  they  were  smiling  in  their 
faces  and  robbing  them  at  the  same  time.  In  the  meantime  the 
Queen  Charlotte  and  the  long-boat  sailed,  while  the  King  George 
shitted  to  Hinchinbroke  Cove.  Some  of  the  boats  were  sent  out 
to  trade,  which  were  tolerably  successful;  but  they  also  suffered 
from  continual  thefts,  which  were  sometimes  accompanied  by 
menaces,  if  they  attempted  to  resist  the  plunderers. 

June  9th  the  Nootka  left  her  former  anchorage,  where  she  had 
been  frozen  in,  and  came  close  to  the  King  George,  when  the 
crew  of  the  latter  were  partly  employed  in  rendering  her  assist- 
ance. Two  days  afterwards  the  long-boat  returned  from  Cook's 
River  with  a  very  good  cargo,  and  was  again  sent  off  with  orders 
to  return  by  the  20th  of  July.  On  the  19th  the  Nootka  sailed. 
Next  day  the  surgeon  took  the  invalids  on  shore  for  an  excursion, 
who,  by  the  use  of  spruce-beer,  which  they  now  brewed  in  abun- 
dance, were  rapidly  recovering.  In  the  evening  observed  two  In- 
dian boats  and  several  canoes,  in  which  were  about  twenty-five 
natives,  who  came  alongside  next  morning.  Their  chief,  named 
Taatucktellingnal*e,  was  paralytic  on  one  side,  had  a  long  beard, 
and  seemed  about  sixty  years  of  age;  his  country  was  called 
Cheeneecock,  situated  towards  the  south-west  part  of  the  Sound. 
July  llth  hauled  the  seine  frequently,  when  not  less  than  two 
thousand  salmon  were  caught  at  each  haul;  and  so  great  were 
their  numbers,  that  ships  prepared  for  the  purpose  might  have 
obtained  any  quantity  they  wished.  The  long-boat  returned  on  the 
21st,  though  without  so  much  success  as  formerly.  On  the  26th 
sailed  from  this  place.  The  natives  in  general  are  short  in  stat- 
ure, with  flat  laces  and  noses,  ill-formed  legs,  but  good  teeth  and 
eyes;  they  wear  their  hair,  which  is  black  and  straight,  very  long, 
but  cut  it  short  on  the  death  of  a  relation,  this  seeming  their  only 
method  of  mourning.  They  are  attentive  to  their  women,  but 
jealous  of  them.  Their  thieving  habits  seem  fixed,  the  most  dex- 
terous being  most  in  esteem,  and  receiving  the  greatest  applause 
for  the  exertion  of  his  talents;  he  is  also  distinguished  by  a  fan- 
tastical dress,  which,  while  it  excites  the  notice  of  the  spectators, 
gives  the  owner  additional  opportunities  of  exerting  his  fingers  at 
their  expense. 

By  the  3d  of  August  had  made  little  progress,  from  the  shift- 
ing of  the  wind.  On  the  8th,  two  large  boats  visited  them,  with 
twenty-five  men,  women,  and  children  on  board,  who,  very  dif- 
ferent from  their  other  visiters,  seemed  very  honest,  and  who  were 
invited  to  dinner  in  the  cabin,  when  they  relished  the  English 
cookery  so  well,  that  the  dishes  were  quickly  obliged  to  be  re- 
plenished. These  departed  in  the  evening  well  pleased  with  their- 
entertainment,  promising  to  return  with  the  means  of  trading  with 
their  new  friends. 

On  the  1 1th  a  new  tribe  visited  them  from  the  eastward,  with 
about  the  same  number  of  persons  as  the  last;  four  days  after,  the 

14 


158  CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXON. 

long-boat  returned,  having  had  pretty  good  success,  notwithstand- 
ing some  acts  of  hostility  which  they  had  been  compelled  to  re- 
taliate upon  the  Indians.  Another  party,  from  the  north-west, 
were  extremely  addicted  to  thieving,  nothing  could  escape  them; 
and,  when  detected,  were  very  impudent,  and  often  threatened 
those  they  robbed.  The  men  were  of  the  size  of  Europeans,  of 
a  fierce  and  savage  aspect,  using  daggers  and  long  spears,  easily 
provoked  and  ready  to  indulge  their  anger. 

August  22d  weighed  and  made  sail  from  this  coast,  having 
done  as  much  as  it  seemed  likely  they  could  do  in  the  way  of  trade. 
September  28th  made  Owhyhee,  the  principal  of  the  Sandwich 
group,  when  several  canoes  came  off,  with  whom  a  brisk  trade 
for  hogs  and  other  refreshments  was  carried  on.  At  Attoui  they 
found  the  Nootka  and  Queen  Charlotte  had  been  there  and  left 
letters  for  the  King  George.  After  procuring  what  necessaries 
they  wanted,  Captain  Portlock  directed  his  course  for  China 
with  his  cargo  of  furs;  on  the  4th  November  saw  Saypan  and 
Tinian,  two  of  the  Ladrone  Islands;  and  on  the  21st  anchored  in 
Macao  Roads,  where  Captain  Dixon  was  found,  whose  transac- 
tions shall  now  be  noticed. 

After  separating,  the  Queen  Charlotte  coasted  it  for  some  time, 
till,  seeing  an  appearance  of  an  inlet,  a  boat  was  despatched  which 
found  an  excellent  harbor,  where  she  soon  after  anchored.  Sev- 
eral canoes  came  off,  from  whom  some  skins  were  procured, 
but  by  no  means  so  many  as  they  had  at  first  reason  to  expect. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  was  about  seventy;  the  harbor,  which 
is  good,  was  named  Port  Mulgrave,  and  is  situated  in  59  deg.  32 
min.  north  latitude;  140  deg.  west  longitude.  The  language  of 
these  people  is  quite  different  from  that  of  Prince  William's  Sound, 
or  Cook's  River,  being  extremely  uncouth  and  difficult  to  pro- 
nounce. The  mode  in  which  they  dispose  of  their  dead  is  re- 
markable; the  head  is  separated  from  the  body,  and  both  are 
wrapped  in  furs,  the  former  being  put  into  a  box,  the  latter  into 
an  oblong  chest  which  are  afterwards  preserved  and  disposed  of 
in  a  fanciful  way. 

June  4th  quitted  this  place,  and  kept  beating  to  the  southward; 
a  harbor  was  perceived  at  a  distance,  which,  upon  examination 
by  the  boats,  was  found  to  extend  to  a  considerable  distance,  with 
a  number  of  coves  here  and  there,  very  well  calculated  for  an- 
chorage; it  was  named  Norfolk  Sound  The  people  were  at  first 
civil  and  well-behaved;  but  soon  became  troublesome  and  thiev- 
ish, like  almost  all  their  brethren  on  this  coast.  Trade  here 
was  not  very  brisk.  July  1st  saw  an  island,  and  were  soon  sur- 
rounded by  Indians,  who,  after  gratifying  their  curiosity  in  exam- 
ining the  vessel,  began  to  trade,  and  soon  parted  with  all  their 
skins.  Several  fresh  tribes  visited  them  almost  daily,  who,  delight- 
ed with  European  articles  of  barter,  were  content  to  leave  their  furs 
behind  in  exchange.  The  residence  of  one  was  strongly  fortified, 


CAPTAINS    PORTLOCK    AND    DIXON.  159 

resembling  a  nippah  or  fortified  place,  in  New  Zealand;  and, 
from  some  circumstances  which  transpired,  Dixon  was  tempted 
also  to  believe  they  were  also  like  the  New  Zealanders,  cannibals. 
Proceeding  to  the  eastward,  eleven  canoes  came  alongside  on  the 
24th  with  one  hundred  and  eighty  persons;  but  curiosity  was  the 
prevailing  motive,  as  they  had  nothing  to  sell;  and,  five  days 
after,  no  less  than  two  hundred  men,  women,  and  children, 
in  eighteen  canoes,  came  off  to  indulge  their  curiosity;  a  num- 
ber that,  on  this  coast,  is  rarely  found  in  one  community.  Their 
chief  had  the  most  savage  aspect  of  any  yet  seen,  his  whole  ap- 
pearance sufficiently  marking  him  as  the  leader  of  a  tribe  of  can- 
nibals. His  stature  was  above  the  common  size,  his  body  spare 
and  thin,  and,  though  seemingly  lank  and  emaciated,  his  step  was 
bold  and  firm,  his  limbs  strong  and  muscular;  his  eyes,  which 
were  large  and  goggling,  seemed  ready  to  start  from  their  sockets; 
his  forehead  deeply  wrinkled,  as  well  by  age  as  an  habitual  frown, 
which,  joined  to  a  long  visage,  hollow  cheeks,  high  cheek-bones, 
and  natural  ferocity  of  temper,  rendered  him  a  most  formidable 
figure. 

August  8th,  made  sail  for  the  Sandwich  Islands.  September 
2d  made  Owhyhee,  and,  after  procuring  refreshments,  stood  on 
for  Whahoo,  being  visited  the  next  day  by  Abbenooe  and  the  king, 
by  whose  commands  they  received  abundant  supplies  of  wood, 
water,  and  provisions,  of  which  they  were  in  extreme  want,  several 
of  the  crew  being  nearly  dead  with  the  scurvy.  Attoui  was  their 
next  destination,  where  the  chiefs  inquired  particularly  after  their 
friend  Po-pote  (Captain  Portlocke,)  and  were  desirous  of  contri- 
buting all  in  their  power  to  the  assistance  of  the  ship,  every  one 
supplying  the  Captain  with  a  liberality  as  unbounded  as  it  was  un- 
expected, but  which  did  not  go  unrewarded;  saws,  hatchets,  nails, 
and  other  iron  instruments  being  given  to  the  men,  and  buttons, 
beads,  and  a  variety  of  ornaments  to  the  women. 

September  18th  made  sail  for  China,  and  anchored  in  Macao 
Roads  the  9th  November,  where  being  joined  as  already  noticed, 
by  the  King  George,  their  meeting  was  extremely  agreeable. 
Captain  Portlock  was  very  much  surprised  in  Canton  with  his  old 
friend  Tiaana,  from  the  Sandwhich  Islands,  who  was  no  less  pleas- 
ed at  seeing  him,  embracing  the  Captain  in  the  most  cordial  and 
affectionate  manner. 

During  his  stay,  Tiaana  was  introduced  to  every  place  worthy 
of  notice;  he  was  usually  dressed  in  a  cloak  and  fine  feather  cap, 
and,  to  show  that  he  was  a  person  of  consequence,  carried  a  spear 
in  his  hand.  Afterwards,  at  the  persuasion  of  Mr.  Ross,  he  wore 
a  light  satin  waistcoat  and  a  pair  of  trousers.  He  frequently  at- 
tended places  of  public  worship,  behaving  with  the  greatest  de- 
corum, and  joining  the  congregation  in  the  ceremonies  of  kneel- 
ing or  standing,  as  if  he  had  been  all  his  life  regularly  accustomed 
to  them.  Some  of  the  customs  of  the  Chinese  displeased  him  ex- 


160  CURIOSITY    BAFFLED. 

ceedingly,  and,  during  the  voyage,  was  nearly  throwing  the  pilot 
overboard  for  some  real  or  imaginary  offence;  he  was,  however, 
of  a  kind  disposition,  displaying  frequent  instances  of  humanity 
as  well  as  generosity.  Being  once  at  an  entertainment,  given  by 
one  of  the  Captains  at  Macao,  his  compassion  was  strongly 
excited  after  dinner  by  seeing  a  number  of  poor  people,  in  Sarn- 
pans,  crowding  round  the  vessel  and  asking  alms;  he  solicited  his 
host's  permission  to  give  them  some  food,  remarking  it  was  a  great 
shame  to  let  poor  people  want  victuals,  and  that  in  his  country 
there  were  no  beggars.  In  compliance  with  his  importunities, 
the  broken  meat  was  collected  under  his  care,  and  he  distributed 
it  in  the  most  equal  and  impartial  manner.  Tiaana  was  six  feet 
two  inches  high,  exceedingly  well-made,  but  inclined  to  corpulen- 
cy; he  had  a  pleasing  animated  countenance,  fine  eyes,  and  other- 
wise expressive  as  well  as  agreeable  features.  He  was  universally 
liked,  and,  previous  to  his  departure  for  Attoui,  the  gentlemen 
at  Canton  furnished  him  with  bulls,  cows,  sheep,  goats,  rabbits, 
turkeys,  &c.  &c.  besides  all  kinds  of  seeds  which  could  be  useful 
in  his  island,  with  directions  how  to  rear  and  propagate  them. 
The  best  skins  of  their  cargoes  were  disposed  of  to  the  East 
India  Company  for  fifty  thousand  dollars,  while  the  inferior  ones 
were  sold  to  the  Chinese,  both  vessels  receiving  in  return  cargoes 
of  tea.  February,  6th,  1788,  weighed  and  made  sail  down  the 
river,  quitting  Macao  finally  a  day  or  two  afterwards.  On  the 
20th  saw  the  island  of  Pulo  Sapata,  four  leagues  distant;  and, 
25th,  the  islands  of  Aramba;  three  days  afterwards  Mr.  Lander, 
surgeon  of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  died,  having  been  ill  for  some 
time,  and  attended  by  his  brother  surgeon,  Mr.  Hoggan,  of  the 
King  George.  On  the  30th  of  March  the  ships  agreed  to  sepa- 
rate, and  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  St.  Helena,  where  the 
King  George  arrived  the  13th  June,  and  the  Queen  Charlotte  on 
the  18th.  The  former  at  length  reached  England,  without  any 
occurrence  worthy  of  remark,  on  the  22d  August;  and  the  latter 
the  17th  September.  Nor  was  the  voyage  unfortunate;  for  though 
no  great  gain  was  made,  yet  nothing  was  lost,  which,  in  a  new 
commercial  speculation,  is  not  an  uncommon  occurrence. 


CURIOSITY  BAFFLED. 

Brook  Watson  was  born  of  humble  parentage,  in  the  province 
of  Maine,  and  in  that  part  of  it  more  appropriately  known  as 
Sagadahoc.  History  has  not  conveyed  to  us  the  incidents  of  his 
childhood.  As  he  met  with  extraordinary  success  in  life,  we 
presume  he  was  pretty  soundly  drubbed  by  the  schoolmaster  and 


CURIOSITY    BAFFLED.  161 

the  older  boys.  He  probably  ran  about  bare-footed  in  summer, 
and  in  winter,  wore  old  woollen  stockings,  with  the  feet  cut  off, 
under  the  name  of  leggins,  to  keep  out  snow-water.  We  imag- 
ine he  got  on  the  raits  of  the  lumber-men,  and  learned  to  swim, 
by  being  knocked  off,  as  a  mischief-maker,  into  the  river.  We 
think  it  likely  he  occasionally  set  up,  of  a  moonshiny  night,  to 
watch  the  bears,  as  they  came  down,  to  reconnoitre  the  pig-stye; 
and  we  have  little  doubt  that,  before  he  was  eleven  years  old, 
he  had  gone  cabin-boy  to  Jamaica,  with  a  cargo  of  pine  boards 
and  timber.  But  of  all  this  we«know  nothing.  It  is  enough  for 
our  story,  that,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  Brook  Watson  was  a  stout 
athletic  young  man,  sailing  out  of  the  port  of  New  York  to  the 
West  Indies. 

The  Yankees  knew  the  way  to  the  West  Indies  a  good  while 
ago;  they  knew  more  ways  than  one.  Their  coasting  vessels 
knew  the  way,  without  quadrant  or  Practical  Navigator.  Their 
skippers  kept  their  reckoning  with  chalk,  on  a  shingle,  which 
they  stowed  away  in  the  binacle;  and,  by  way  of  observation, 
they  held  up  a  hand  to  the  sun.  When  they  got  him  over  four 
fingers,  they  knew  they  were  straight  for  the  Hole-in-the-wall; 
three  fingers  gave  them  their  course  to  the  Double-headed-shot 
Keys,  and  two  carried  them  down  to  Barbadoes.  This  was  one 
way;  and  when  the  Monsieurs  and  the  Dons  at  Martinico  and 
the  Havana  heard  the  old  New  England  drums,  thumping  away 
under  the  very  teeth  of  their  batteries,  they  understood  to  their 
cost,  that  the  Yankees  had  another  way  of  working  their  passage. 
But  Brook  Watson  went  to  the  Havana  in  the  way  of  trade. 
He  went  as  second  mate  of  the  Royal  Consort,  a  fine  topsail 
schooner  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  tons;  and  whether  he  had 
any  personal  venture  in  the  mules,  butter,  cheese,  codfish,  and 
shocks,  which  she  took  out,  is  more  than  history  has  recorded. 

Captain  Basil  Hall  says  the  Americans  are  too  apt  to  talk 
about  the  weather.  But  in  the  tropics,  in  the  month  of  July, 
aboard  a  small  ship,  without  a  breath  stirring,  captain,  it  is  hot; 
— you  have  been  a  sailor  yourself,  and  you  ought  to  know  it.  It 
was  very  hot  on  board  the  Royal  Consort,  about  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  14th  of  July,  1755.  There  was  not  the 
slightest  movement  in  the  air;  the  rays  of  the  sun  seemed  to  burn 
down  into  the  water.  Silence  took  hold  of  the  animated  creation. 
It  was  too  hot  to  talk,  whistle,  or  sing;  to  bark,  to  crow,  or  to 
bray.  Every  thing  crept  under  cover,  but  Sambo  and  Cuffce, 
two  fine  looking  blacks,  who  sat  sunning  themselves  on  the  quay, 
and  thought  "  him  berry  pleasant  weather,"  and  glistened  like  a 
new  Bristol  bottle. 

Brook  Watson  was  fond  of  the  water;  he  was  not  web-footed, 
nor  was  he  branchioustegous;  (there's  for  you,  see  Noah  Web- 
ster;) but  were  he  asked  whether  he  felt  most  at  home  on  land 
or  in  the  water,  he  would  have  found  it  hard  to  tell.  He  had 

14* 


162  CURIOSITY    BAFFLED. 

probably  swum  the  Kennebec,  where  it  is  as  wide  and  deep  as 
the  Hellespont  between  Sestos  and  Abydos,  at  least  once  a  day, 
for  five  months  in  the  year,,  ever  since  he  was  eleven  years  old, 
without  Lord  Byron's  precaution  of  a  boat  in  company,  to  pick 
him  up,  in  case  of  need.  As  his  Lordship  seemed  desirous  of 
imitating  Leander,  honesty  ought,  we  think,  to  have  suggested 
to  him,  to  go  without  the  boat.  At  all  events,  that  was  Brook 
Watson's  way;  and  we  have  no  doubt,  had  he  been  in  a  boat, 
with  a  head  wind,  he  would  have  sprung  into  the  river,  in  order 
to  get  across  the  sooner.  With'this  taste  for  the  water,  and  with 
the  weather  so  oppressive  as  we  have  described  it  on  the  present 
occasion,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  Brook  Watson  should 
have  turned  his  thoughts  for  refreshment,  to  a  change  of  element; 
in  other  words,  that  he  should  have  resolved  to  bathe  himself  in 
the  sea. 

Such  was  the  fact.  About  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
when  every  other  being  on  board  the  vessel  had  crept  away 
into  the  cabin  or  the  forecastle,  to  enjoy  a  siesta,  Brook,  who  had 
been  sweltering,  and  panting,  and  thinking  of  the  banks  of  the 
Kennebec,  till  his  stout  gay  heart  felt  like  a  great  ball  of  lead 
within  him,  tripped  up  on  deck,  dropped  his  loose  clothing,  and  in 
an  instant  was  over  the  side  of  the  vessel.  This  was  Brook's  first 
voyage  to  the  West  Indies,  since  he  had  grown  up;  and  the  first 
day  after  his  arrival.  He  was  one  of  that  class  of  mankind  not 
bred  up  to  books;  and,  consequently,  in  the  way  of  learning  wis- 
dom only  by  experience.  What  you  learn  by  experience,  you 
learn  pretty  thoroughly,  but  at  the  same  time,  occasionally,  much 
to  your  cost.  Thus  by  chopping  off  a  couple  of  fingers  with  a 
broad  axe,  you  learn,  by  experience,  not  to  play  with  edge-tools. 
Brook  Watson's  experience  in  bathing  had  hitherto  been  confined 
to  the  Kennebec;  a  noble,  broad,  civil  stream,  harboring  nothing 
within  its  gentle  waters  more  terrible  than  a  porpoise.  The  sea- 
serpent  had  not  yet  appeared.  Brook  Watson  had  certainly 
heard  of  sharks,  but  at  the  moment  of  forming  the  resolution  to 
bathe,  it  had  entirely  escaped  his  mind,  if  it  had  ever  entered  it, 
that  the  West  India  seas  were  full  of  them;  and  so  over  he  went, 
with  a  fearless  plunge. 

Sambo  and  CufFee,  as  we  have  said,  were  sitting  on  the  quay, 
enjoying  the  pleasant  sunshine,  and  making  their  evening  repast 
of  banana,  when  they  heard  the  plunge  into  the  water  by  the  side 
of  the  Royal  Consort,  and  presently  saw  Brook  Watson  emerging 
from  the  deep,  his  hands  to  his  eyes,  to  free  them  from  the  brine, 
balancing  up  and  down,  sputtering  the  water  from  his  mouth,  and 
then  throwing  himself  forward,  hand  over  hand,  as  if  at  length  he 
realjy  felt  himself  in  his  element. 

"  Oh,  Massa  Bacra,"  roared  out  Sambo,  as  soon  as  he  could 
recover  his  astonishment  enough  to  speak,  "  O  Senor;  he  white 
nan  neber  go  to  swim;  O,  de  tiburon;  he  berry  bad  bite,  come 


CURIOSITY    BAFFLED.  163 

llamar — de  shark;  he  hab  berry  big  mouth;  he  eatee  a  Senor  all 
up  down!" 

Such  was  the  exclamation  of  Sambo,  in  the  best  English  he 
had  been  able  to  pick  up,  in  a  few  years  service,  in  unlading  the 
American  vessels,  that  came  to  the  Havana.  It  was  intended  to 
apprise  the  bold  but  inexperienced  stranger,  that  the  waters  were 
filled  with  sharks,  and  that  it  was  dangerous  to  swim  in  them. 
The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  and,  even  if  they  were  heard, 
had  not  time  to  produce  their  effect,  when  Cuffee  responded  to 
the  exclamation  of  his  sable  colleague,  with — 

"  O,  Madre  de  Dios,  see,  see,  de  tiburon,  de  shark; — ah  San 
Salvador;  ah  pobre  joven!  matar,  todo  comer,  he  eat  him  all  down, 
berry  soon!" 

This  second  cry  had  been  drawn  from  the  kind-hearted  negro, 
by  seeing,  at  a  distance,  in  the  water,  a  smooth  shooting  streak, 
which  an  inexperienced  eye  would  not  have  noticed;  but  which 
Sambo  and  Cuffee  knew  full  well.  It  was  the  wake  of  a  shark. 
At  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  two,  the  shark  had  perceived  his 
prey;  and  with  the  rapidity  of  sound  he  had  shot  across  the  inter- 
vening space,  scarcely  disturbing  the  surface  with  a  ripple. 
Cuffee's  practised  eye  alone  had  seen  a  flash  of  his  tail,  at  the 
distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half;  and  raising  his  voice  to  the  utmost 
of  his  strength,  he  had  endeavored  to  apprise  the  incautious  swim- 
mer of  his  danger.  Brook  heard  the  shout,  and  turned  his  eye  in 
the  direction,  in  which  the  negro  pointed;  and  well  skilled  in  all 
the  appearances  of  the  water,  under  which  he  could  see  almost 
as  well  as  in  the  open  air,  he  perceived  the  sharp  forehead  of  the 
fearful  animal  rushing  towards  him,  head  on,  with  a  rapidity  which 
bade  defiance  to  flight.  Had  he  been  armed  with  a  knife,  or  even 
a  stick,  he  would  not  have  feared  the  encounter;  but  would  have 
coolly  waited  his  chance,  like  the  negroes  of  the  West  Indies 
and  the  Spanish  Main,  and  plunged  his  weapon  into  the  opening 
maw  of  the  ravenous  animal.  But  he  was  wholly  naked  and  de- 
fenceless. Everyone  on  board  the  Royal  Consort  was  asleep; 
and  it  was  in  vain  to  look  for  aid  from  that  quarter.  He  cast  a 
glance,  in  his  extremity,  to  Sambo  and  Cuffee;  and  saw  them, 
with  prompt  benevolence,  throw  themselves  into  a  boat,  to  rescue 
him ;  but  meantime  the  hungry  enemy  was  rushing  on. 

Brook  thought  of  the  Kennebec;  he  thought  of  its  green  banks, 
and  its  pleasant  islands.  He  thought  of  the  tall  trunks  of  the 
pine  trees,  scathed  with  fire,  which  stood  the  grim  sentinels  of  the 
forest,  over  the  roof  where  he  was  born.  He  thought  of  the  log 
school-house.  He  thought  of  his  little  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
of  his  mother;  and  there  was  another  image  that  passed  through 
his  mind,  and  almost  melted  into  cowardice  his  manly  throbbing 
heart.  He  thought  of  Mary  Atwood,  and — but  he  had  to  think 
of  himself.  For  though  these  tumultuous  emotions  and  a  thousand 
others  rushed  through  his  mind  in  a  moment,  crowding  that  one 


164  CURIOSITY    BAFFLED. 


moment  with  a  long  duration  of  suffering;  yet  in  the  same  fleet 
moment,  the  dreadful  monster  had  shot  across  the  entire  space 
that  separated  him  from  Brook;  and  had  stopped,  as  if  its  vitality 
had  been  instantly  arrested,  at  the  distance  of  about  twelve  feet 
from  our  swimmer.  Brook  had  drawn  himself  up  in  the  most 
pugnacious  attitude  possible;  and  was  treading  water  with  great 
activity.  The  shark,  probably  unused  to  any  signs  of  making 
battle,  remained,  for  one  moment,  quiet;  and  then,  like  a  flash  of 
lightning,  shot  sideling  off,  and  came  round  in  the  rear.  Brook, 
however,  was  as  wide  awake  as  his  enemy.  If  he  had  not  dealt 
with  sharks  before,  he  knew  something  of  the  ways  of  bears  and 
catamounts;  and  contriving  himself  to  get  round,  about  as  soon 
as  the  shark,  he  still  presented  a  bold  front  to  the  foe. 

But  a  human  creature,  after  all,  is  out  of  his  element  in  the 
water;  and  he  fights  with  a  shark,  to  about  the  same  disadvantage 
as  the  shark  himself,  when  dragged  up  on  deck,  fights  with  a 
man.  He  flounces  and  flings  round,  and  makes  formidable  battle 
with  tail  and  maw;  but  he  is  soon  obliged  to  yield.  The  near 
approach  to  a  fine  plump  healthy  Yankee  was  too  much  for  the 
impatience  of  our  shark.  The  plashing  of  the  oars  of  Sambo  and 
Cuffee,  warned  the  sagacious  monster  of  gathering  foes.  Whirl- 
ing himself  over  on  his  back,  and  turning  up  his  long  white  belly, 
and  opening  his  terrific  jaws,  set  round  with  a  double  ro^w  of  broad 
serrated  teeth,  the  whole  roof  of  his  mouth  paved  with  horrent 
fangs,  all  standing  erect,  sharp,  and  rigid,  just  permitting  the 
blood-bright  red  to  be  seen  between  their  roots,  he  darted  toward 
Brook.  Brook's  self-possession  stood  by  him  in  this  trying  mo- 
ment. He  knew  very  well  if  the  animal  reached  him  in  a  vital 
part,  that  instant  death  was  his  fate;  and  with  a  rapid  movement, 
either  of  instinct  or  calculation,  he  threw  himself  backward, 
kicking,  at  the  same  moment,  at  the  shark.  In  consequence  of 
this  movement,  his  foot  and  leg  passed  into  the  horrid  maw  of  the 
dreadful  monster,  and  were  severed  in  a  moment, — muscles,  sin-- 
ews,  and  bone.  In  the  next  moment,  Sambo  and  Cuffee  were  at 
his  side;  and  lifted  him  into  the  boat,  convulsed  with  pain,  and 
fainting  with  loss  of  blood.  The  Royal  Consort  was  near,  and 
the  alarm  was  speedily  given.  Brook  was  taken  on  board;  the 
vessel's  company  were  roused;  bandages  and  styptics  were  ap- 
plied; surgical  advice  was  obtained  from  the  shore,  and  in  due 
season  the  hearty  and  sound-constitutioned  youth  recovered. 

The  place  of  his  lost  limb  was  supplied  by  a  wooden  one;  and 
industry,  temperance,  probity,  and  zeal,  supplied  the  place  of  a 
regiment  of  legs,  when  employed  to  prop  up  a  lazy  and  dissipated 
frame.  The  manly  virtues  of  our  hero  found  their  reward;  his 
sufferings  were  crowned  with  a  rich  indemnity.  He  rose  from  one 
step  to  another  of  prosperity.  Increased  means  opened  a  wider 
sphere  of  activity  and  usefulness.  He  was  extensively  engaged  in 
public  contracts,  which  he  fulfilled  to  the  advantage  of  the  gov- 


CURIOSITY    BAFFLED.  165 

eminent,  as  well  as  his  own; — a  thing  rare  enough  among  con- 
tracting biptds.  From  a  contractor,  he  became  a  commissary, 
and  from  commissary,  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

Behold  our  hero  now,  at  the  head  of  the  magistracy  of  the  me- 
tropolis of  the  British  empire,  displaying,  in  this  exalted  station, 
the  virtues,  which  had  raised  him  to  it  from  humble  life;  and 
combating  the  monsters  of  vice  and  corruption,  which  infest  the 
metropolis,  as  boldly  as  he  withstood  the  monster  of  the  deep,  and 
with  greater  success.  All  classes  of  his  majesty's  subjects,  who 
had  occasion  to  approach  him,  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  civic 
qualities;  and  his  fame  spread  far  and  wide  through  Great  Britain. 
Nor  was  it  confined,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  to  the  British  isles. 
The  North  American  colonies  were  proud  of  their  fellow  citizen, 
who,  from  poverty  and  obscurity,  had  reached  the  Lord  Mayor's 
chair.  The  ambitious  mother  quoted  him  to  her  emulous  offspring. 
The  thrifty  merchant  at  Boston,  would  send  a  quintal  of  the  best 
Isle-of-Shoals,  as  a  present  to  his  worship;  and  once,  on  the  an- 
nual election-day,  the  reverend  gentleman,  who  officiated  on  the 
occasion,  in  commenting  on  the  happy  auspices  of  the  day,  (it 
was  just  after  the  receipt  of  a  large  sum  of  money  from  England, 
on  account  of  the  expenses  of  the  colony  in  the  old  war,)  includ- 
ed among  them,  that  a  son  of  New  England  had  been  entrusted 
with  the  high  and  responsible  duties  of  the-Chief  Magistracy  of 
the  metropolis  of  his  majesty's  dominions. 

It  may  well  be  supposed,  that  the  Americans,  who  went  home 
(as  it  was  called,  even  in  the  case  of  those,  who  were  born  and 
bred  in  the  colonies)  were  very  fond  of  seeking  the  acquaintance 
of  Sir  Brook  Watson,  for  knighthood  had  followed  in  the  train 
of  his  other  honors.  Greatly  to  the  credit  of  his  worship,  he 
uniformly  received  them  with  kindness  and  cordiality,  and  instead 
of  shunning  whatever  recalled  his  humble  origin,  he  paid  partic- 
ular attention  to  every  one,  that  came  from  Sagadahoc.  There 
was  but  a  single  point  in  his  history  and  condition,  on  which  he 
evinced  the  least  sensitiveness,  and  this  was  the  painful  occur- 
rence, which  had  deprived  him  of  his  limb.  Regret  at  this  severe 
loss;  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  agony,  which  had  accompanied  it ; 
and  probably  no  little  annoyance  at  the  incessant  interrogatories 
to  which  it  had  exposed  him  through  life,  and  the  constant  repeti- 
tion, to  which  it  had  driven  him  of  all  the  details  of  this  event,  had 
unitedly  made  it  a  very  sore  subject  with  him.  He  at  length 
ceased  himself  to  allude  to  it,  and  his  friends  perceived,  by  the 
brevity  of  his  answers,  that  it  was  a  topic  on  which  he  wished  to 
be  spared. 

Among  the  Americans  who  obtained  an  introduction  to  his 
worship  in  London,  were  Asahel  Ferret  and  Richard  Teasewell, 
shrewd  Yankees,  who  had  found  their  way  over  to  England,  with 
a  machine  for  dressing  flax.  They  had  obtained  a  letter  of  re- 
commendation from  a  merchant  in  Boston  to  Sir  Brook.  They 


166  CURIOSITY    BAFFLED. 

had  no  reason  to  murmur  at  their  reception.  They  were  invited 
to  dine  with  his  lordship  and  treated  with  hearty  hospitality  and 
friendship.  The  dinner  passed  rather  silently  away,  but  with  no 
neglect  of  the  main  end  of  the  dinner.  Our  Yankee  visiters  did 
full  justice  to  his  worship's  bountiful  fare.  They  found  his  mutton 
fine;  his  turbot  fine;  his  strong  beer  genuine  (as  they  called  it); 
and  his  wine  most  extraordinary  good;  and  as  the  bottle  circulat- 
ed, the  slight  repression  of  spirits,  under  which  they  commenced, 
passed  of.  They  became  proportionally  inquisitive,  and  opened 
upon  their  countryman  a  full  battery  of  questions.  They  began 
with  the  articles,  that  formed  the  dessert;  and  asked  whether  his 
lordship's  peaches  were  raised  in  his  lordship's  own  garden. 
Whentold  they  were  not,  they  made  so  bold  as  to  inquire,  whether 
they  were  a  present  to  his  lordship  or  boughten.  The  mayor 
having  answered  that  they  came  from  the  market, — "  might  they 
presume  to  ask  how  much  they  had  cost?"  They  were  curious 
to  be  informed  whether  the  silver  gilt  spoons*  were  solid  metal ;- 
how  many  little  ones  his  worship  had;  what  meeting  he  went  to, 
and  whether  his  lordship  had  ever  heard  Mr.  Whitefield  preach; 
and  if  he  did  not  think  him  a  fine  speaker.  They  were  anxious 
to  know,  whether  his  lordship  went  to  see  his  Majesty  sociably 
now,  as  you  would  run  in  and  out  at  a  neighbor's;  whether  her 
majesty  was  a  comely  personable  woman,  and  whether  it  was  true, 
that  the  prince  was  left-handed,  and  the  princess  pock-marked. 
They  inquired  what  his  lordship  was  worth;  how  much  he  used  to 
get,  as  commissary ;  how  much  he  got  as  lord  mayor;  and  whether 
her  ladyship  had  not  something  handsome  of  her  own.  They 
were  anxious  to  know,  what  his  worship  would  turn  his  hand  to, 
when  he  had  done  being  lord  mayor;  how  old  he  was;  whether 
he  did  not  mean  to  go  back  and  live  in  America;  and  whether  it 
was  not  very  pleasant  to  his  lordship,  to  meet  a  countryman  from 
New  England.  To  all  these  questions  and  a  great  many  more, 
equally  searching  and  to  the  point,  his  lordship  answered  good- 
humoredly;  sometimes  with  a  direct  reply,  sometimes  evasively, 
but  never  impatiently.  He  perceived,  however,  that  the  appetite 
of  their  curiosity  grew,  from  what  it  fed  on;  and  that  it  would  be 
as  wise  in  him  to  hope  for  respite  oh  their  being  satisfied,  as  it 
was  in  the  rustic  to  wait  for  the  river  to  run  out. 

These  sturdy  questioners  had  received  a  hint,  that  his  lordship 
was  rather  sensitive,  on  the  subject  of  his  limb,  and  not  fond  of 
having  it  alluded  to.  This,  of  course,  served  no  other  purpose, 
than  that  of  imparting  to  them  an  intense  desire  to  know  every 
thing  about  it.  They  had  never  heard  by  what  accident  his  lord- 
ship had  met  this  misfortune;  as  indeed  the  delicacy,  which  had 
for  years  been  observed  on  the  subject,  in  the  circle  of  his  friends, 
had  prevented  the  singular  circumstances,  which  in  early  youth 
deprived  him  of  his  leg,  from  being  generally  known.  It  was 
surmised  by  some,  til  it  he  had  broken  it  by  a  fall  on  the  ice,  in 


CURIOSITY    BAFFLED.  167 

crossing  the  Kennebec  in  the  winter.  Others  affirmed,  of  their 
certain  knowledge,  that  he  was  crushed  in  a  raft  of  timber;  and  a 
third  had  heard  a  brother-in-law  declare,  that  he  stood  by  him, 
when  it  was  shot  off,  before  Quebec.  In  fact,  many  persons,  not 
altogether  as  curious  as  our  visitants,  really  wished  they  knew  how 
his  lordship  lost  his  leg. 

This  prevailing  mystery,  the  good  humor  with  which  his  wor- 
ship had 'answered  their  other  questions,  and  the  keen  sting  of 
curiosity  wrought  upon  the  visiters,  till  they  were  almost  in  a 
frenzy.  The  volubility,  with  which  they  put  their  other  ques- 
tions, arose,  in  part,  from  the  flutter  of  desire  to  probe  this  hidden 
matter.  They  looked  at  his  worship's  wooden  leg;  at  each  other; 
at  the  carpet;  at  the  ceiling;  and  finally,  one  of  them,  by  way 
of  a  feeler,  asked  his  lordship,  if  he  had  seen  the  new  model  of 
a  cork  leg,  contrived  by  Mr.  Rivetshin  and  highly  commended  in 
the  papers.  His  lordship  had  not  heard  of  it.  Baffled  in  this, 
they  asked  his  lordship,  whether  he  supposed  it  was  very  painful 
to  lose  a  limb,  by  a  cannon  ball  or  a  grape  shot.  His  worship 
really  could  not  judge,  he  had  never  had  that  misfortune.  They 
then  inquired  whether  casualties  did  not  frequently  happen  to 
lumberers  on  the  Kennebec  river.  The  mayor  replied  that  the 
poor  fellows  did  sometimes  slip  off  a  rolling  log,  and  get  drowned. 
"Were  there  not  bad  accidents  in  crossing  the  river  on  the  ice?" 
His  lordship  had  heard  of  a  wagon  of  produce,  that  had  been 
blown  down  upon  the  slippery  surface  of  the  ice,  horses  and  all, 
as  far  as  Merry  Meeting  Bay,  when  it  was  brought  up  by  a  shot 
from  fort  Charles,  which  struck  the  wagon  between  perch  and 
axle-tree  and  knocked  it  over;  but  his  lordship  pleasantly  added, 
he  believed  it  was  an  exaggeration. 

Finding  no  possibility  of  getting  the  desired  information  by  any 
indirect  means,  they  began  to  draw  their  breath  hard;  to  throw 
quick  glances  at  each  other  and  at  his  lordship's  limb;  and  in  a 
few  moments  one  of  them,  with  a  previous  jerk  of  his  head  and 
compression  of  his  lips,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I  will  know  it  or  die," 
ventured  to  take  the  liberty  to  inquire,  if  he  might  presume  so 
far,  as  to  ask  his  lordship,  by  what  accident  he  had  been  deprived 
of  the  valuable  limb,  which  appeared  to  be  wanting  to  his  lord- 
ship's otherwise  fine  person. 

His  lordship  was  amused  at  the  air  and  manner  with  which  the 
question  was  put;  like  those  of  a  raw  lad,  who  shuts  his  eye, 
when  taking  aim  with  a  gun.  The  displeasure  he  would  other- 
wise have  felt  was  turned  into  merriment;  and  he  determined  to 
sport  with  their  unconscionable  curiosity. 

"  Why,  my  friends,  said  he,  what  good  would  it  do  you  to  be 
informed?  How  many  questions  I  have  already  answered  you 
this  morning!  You  now  ask  me  how  I  lost  my  leg;  if  I  answer 
you  on  that  point,  you  will  wish  to  know  the  when,  and  the 


168  CURIOSITY    BAFFLED. 

wherefore;  and  instead  of  satisfying  I  shall  only  excite  your 
curiosity." 

"  Oh  no,"  they  replied,  "  if  his  lordship  would  but  condescend 
to  answer  them  this  one  question,  they  would  agree  never  to  ask 
him  another." 

His  lordship  paused  a  moment,  musing;  and  then  added,  with 
a  smile,  "  But  will  you  pledge  yourselves  to  me  to  that  effect?" 

Oh,  they  were  willing  to  lay  themselves  under  any  obligation; 
they  would  enter  into  bond  not  to  trouble  his  lordship  with  any 
farther  question;  they  would  forfeit  a  thousand  pounds,  if  they 
did  not  keep  their  word. 

"  Done,  gentlemen,"  said  his  lordship,  "  I  accept  the  condition 
— I  will  answer  your  question,  and  take  your  bond  never  to  put 
me  another." 

The  affected  mystery,  the  delay,  and  the  near  prospect  of  satis- 
fying their  own  curiosity,  rendered  our  visiters  perfectly  indiffer- 
ent to  the  conditions,  on  which  they  were  to  obtain  the  object  of 
their  desire.  His  lordship  rang  for  a  clerk,  to  whom  he  briefly 
explained  the  case,  directing  him  to  draw  up  a  bond,  for  the 
signature  of  his  inquisitive  countrymen.  The  instrument  was 
soon  produced,  and  ran  in  the  following  terms. 

"  KNOW  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS, 

That  we,  Alsahel  Ferret  and  Richard  Tease  well,  of  the  town  of 
Gossipbridge  and  county  of  Tolland.  in  his  majesty's  colony  of 
Connecticut,  in  New  England,  do  hereby  jointly  and  severally 
acknowledge  ourselves  firmly  holden  and  bound  to  his  worship, 
Sir  Brook  Watson,  the  present  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  to  his 
heirs,  and  assigns,  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling; 
and  we  do  hereby,  for  ourselves,  our  heirs,  and  assigns,  covenant 
and  agree,  to  pay  to  his  said  worship,  the  present  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  to  his  heirs  and  assigns,  the  aforesaid  sum  of  one  thou- 
sand pounds  sterling,  when  the  same  shall  become  due,  according 
to  the  tenor  of  this  obligation; — 

And  the  condition  of  this  obligation  is  such,  that,  whereas  the 
aforesaid  Ferret  and  Teasewell,  of  the  town  and  county,  8tc.  and 
colony,  &c.  have  signified  to  his  aforesaid  worship  their  strong 
desire,  to  be  informed,  apprised,  instructed,  told,  made  acquaint- 
ed, satisfied,  put  at  rest,  and  enlightened,  how  and  in  what  man- 
ner his  aforesaid  worship  became  deprived,  mutilated,  maimed, 
curtailed,  retrenched,  damnified,  abated,  abscinded,  amputated, 
or  abridged  in  the  article  of  his  worship's  right  leg;  and  whereas 
his  aforesaid  worship,  willing  to  gratify  the  laudable  curiosity  of 
the  said  Ferret  and  Teasewell;  but  desirous  also  to  put  some 
period,  term,  end,  close,  estoppel,  and  finish,  to  the  numerous 
questions,  queries,  interrogatories,  inquiries,  demands,  and  exam- 
inations of  the  said  Ferret  and  Teasewell,  whereby  his  aforesaid 


CURIOSITY    BAFFLED.  169 

worship  hath  been  sorely  teased,  worried,  wherreted,  perplexed, 
annoyed,  tormented,  afflicted,  soured,  and  discouraged;  therefore, 
to  the  end  aforesaid,  and  in  consideration  of  the  premises  afore- 
said, his  worship  aforesaid,  hath  covenanted,  consented,  agreed, 
promised,  contracted,  stipulated,  bargained,  and  doth,  Sec.  with 
the  said  Ferret  and  Teasewell,  Sec.  kc.  to  answer  such  question, 
as  they,  the  said  Ferret  and  Teasewell,  shall  put  and  propound 
to  his  said  worship,  in  the  premises,  touching  the  manner,  &c.  &c. 
truly,  and  without  guile,  covin,  fraud,  or  falsehood;  and  the  said 
Ferret  and  Teasewell,  also,  do  on  their  part,  covenant,  consent, 
agree,  promise,  stipulate,  and  bfirgain  with  his  aforesaid  worship, 
and  have,  &c.  that  they  will  never  propound,  or  put  any  farther 
or  different  question  to  his  aforesaid  worship,  during  the  term  of 
their  natural  lives; — And  if  the  said  Ferret  and  Teasewell,  or 
either  of  them,  contrary  to  the  obligation  of  this  bond,  shall  at 
any  time  hereafter,  put  or  propound  any  farther,  or  other,  or  dif- 
ferent question  to  his  said  worship,  they  shall  jointly  and  severally, 
forfeit  and  pay  to  his  said  worship,  the  sum  aforesaid,  of  one 
thousand  pounds,  sterling  money;  and  if,  during  the  term  of  their 
natural  lives,  they  shall  utterly  forbear,  abstain,  renounce,  aban- 
don, abjure,  withhold,  neglect,  and  omit,  to  propound  any  such, 
other,  or  farther,  or  different  question,  to  his  aforesaid  worship, 
then  this  bond  shall  be  utterly  null,  void,  and  of  no  effect; — but 
otherwise  in  full  force  and  validity. 

Witness  our  hand  and  seal,  this  tenth  day  of  October,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 

ASAHEL  FERRET.  (Seal.) 

RICHARD  TEASEWELL.     (Seal.) 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered, 
in  presence  of 

FRANCIS  FAIRSERVICE. 
SAMUEL  SLYPLAY. 

Middlesex,  ss.  10th  October,  A.  D.  1769.  Then  personally 
appeared  before  me,  the  said  Asahel  Ferret  and  Richard  Tease- 
well,  and  acknowledged  the  aforesaid  obligation  to  be  their  free 
act  and  deed. 

Attest.     THOMAS  TRUEMAN,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Stamp,  3s." 

The  instrument  was  executed,  handed  to  his  worship,  and  de- 
posited in  his  scrutoire. 

'  Now  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I   am  ready  for  your  question." 
They  paused  a  moment,  from  excess  of  excitement  and  antici- 
pation.    Their  feelings  were   like  those  of  Columbus,  when  he 
beheld  a  light  from  the  American  shores;  like  Dr.   Franklin's, 
when  he  took  the  electric  spark  from  the  string  of  his  kite. 

15 


170  THE    RKTTJRV   OF   THE    ADMIRAL. 

"Your  lordship  then  will  please  to  inform  us,  how  your  lord- 
ship's limb  was  taken  off." 

"  IT  WAS  BJTTEN  OFF!'' 

They  started,  as  if  they  had  taken  a  shock  from  an  electric 
battery;  the  blood  shot  up  to  their  temples;  they  stepped  each  a 
pace  nearer  to  his  lordship,  and  with  staring  eyes,  gaping  mouth, 
and  with  uplifted  hands,  were  about  to  pour  out  a  volley  of  ques- 
tions, "  by  whom,  by  what  bitten;  how,  why,  when!" 

But  his  lordship  smilingly  put  his  forefinger  to  his  lip,  and  then 
pointed  to  the  scrutoire,  where  their  bond  was  deposited. 

They  saw,  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  that  they  were  taken 
in;  and  departed  rather  embarrassed  and  highly  dissatisfied,  with 
having  passed  an  afternoon,  in  finding  out  that  his  lordship's  leg 
was  bitten  ofF.  This  mode  of  losing  a  limb  being  one  of  very 
rare  occurrence,  their  curiosity  was  rather  increased  than  allayed 
by  the  information;  and  as  they  went  down  stairs,  they  were  heard 
by  the  servants,  muttering  to  each  other,  "  Who,  do  you  'spose, 
bit  off  his  leg?" — JY".  England  Magazine. 


THE  RETURN  OF  THE  ADMIRAL. 
BY  BARRY  CORNWALL. 

How  gallantly,  how  merrily, 

We  ride  along  the  sea  ! 
The  morning  is  all  sunshine, 

The  wind  is  blowing  free  ; 
The  billows  are  all  sparkling, 

And  bounding  in  the  light 
Like  creatures  in  whose  sunny  veins 

The  blood  is  running  bright. 
All  nature  knows  our  triiimph  : 

Strange  birds  about  us  sweep ; 
Strange  things  come  up  to  look  at  us, 

The  masters  of  the  deep ; 
In  our  wake,  like  any  servant, 

Follows  even  the  bold  shark — 
Oh,  proud  must  be  our  Admiral 

Of  such  a  bonny  barque  ! 

Proud,  proud  must  be  our  Admiral 

(Though  he  is  pale  to-day,) 
Of  twice  five  hundred  iron  men, 

Who  all  his  nod  obey  ; 
Who've  fought  for  him,  and  conquered — 

Who've  won  with  sweat  and  .gore, 
Nobility  !  which  he  shall  have 

Whene'er  he  touch  the  shore. 
Oh  !  would  I  were  our  Admira.^ 

To  order,  with  a  word — 
To  lose  a  dozen  drops  of  blood, 

And  straight  rise  up  a  lord  ! 


SHIPWRECKED    MARINERS.  '71 

I  'd  shout  e'en  to  yon  shark,  there, 

Who  follows  in  our  lee, 
"  Some  day  I  '11  make  thee  carry  me, 

Like  lightning  through  the  sea  !  " 

— The  Admiral  grew  paler, 

And  paler  as  we  flew ; 
Still  talked  he  to  his  officers, 

And  smiled  upon  his  crew  ; 
And  he  looked  up  at  the  heavens, 

And  he  looked  down  on  the  sea, 
And  at  last  he  spied  the  creature 

That  kept  following  in  our  lee. 
He  shook — 't  was  but  an  instant — 

For  speedily  the  pride 
Ran  crimson  to  his  heart, 

Till  all  chances  he  defied ; 
It  threw  boldness  on  his  forehead  j 

Gave  firmness  to  his  breath  ; 
And  he  stood  like  some  grim  warrior 

New  risen  up  from  death. 

That  night,  a  horrid  whisper 

Fell  on  us  where  we  lay, 
And  we  knew  our  old  fine  Admiral 

Was  changing  into  clay  ; 
And  we  heard  the  wash  of  waters, 

Though  nothing  could  we  see, 
And  a  whistle  and  a  plunge 

Among  the  billows  in  our  lee  ! 
'Till  dawn  we  watched  the  body 

In  its  dead  and  ghastly  sleep, 
And  next  evening  at  sunset, 

It  was  slung  into  the  deep  ! 
And  never,  from  that  moment, 

Save  one  shudder  through  the  sea, 
Saw  we  (or  heard)  the  shark 

That  had  followed  in  our  lee  ! 


SHIPWRECKED  MARKERS   SATED  THROUGH 
A  DREAM. 

In  June,  1695,  the  ship  Mary,  commanded  by  Captain  Jones, 
with  a  crew  of  twenty-two  men,  sailed  from  Spithead  for  the 
West  Indies;  and  contrary  to  the  remonstrances  of  one  Adams 
on  board,  the  master  steered  a  course  which  brought  the  vessel 
on  the  Caskets,  a  large  body  of  rocks,  two  or  three  leagues  south 
east  of  Guernsey.  It  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  the  ship  struck  against  the  high  rock,  and  all  the  bows  were 
stove  in;  the  water  entered  most  rapidly,  and  in  less  than  half  an 
hour,  she  sunk.  Those  of  the  crew  who  were  in  the  fore  part  of 


172  SHIPWRECKED     MARINERS. 

the  ship,  got  upon  the  rock;  but  the  rest,  to  the  number  of  eight, 
who  were  in  the  hind  part,  sunk  directly,  and  were  seen  no  more. 
Adams  and  thirteen  more,  who  were  on  the  rock,  had  not  time  to 
save  any  thing  out  of  the  ship  for  their  subsistence;  and  the  place 
afforded  them  none,  nor  even  any  shelter  from  the  heat  of  the 
sun.  The  first  day  they  went  down  the  rock,  and  gathered 
limpets,  but  finding  that  they  increased  their  thirst,  they  eat  no 
more  of  them.  The  third  day  they  killed  the  dog  which  had  swam 
to  the  rock,  and  eat  him,  or  rather  chewed  his  flesh,  to  allay  their 
thirst,  which  was  excessive.  They  passed  nine  days  without  any 
ether  food,  and  without  any  prospect  of  relief;  their  flesh  wasted, 
their  sinews  shrunk,  and  their  mouths  parched  with  thirst;  on  the 
tenth  day,  they  agreed  to  cast  lots,  that  two  of  the  company  should 
die,  in  order  to  preserve  the  rest  a  little  longer.  When  the  two 
men  were  marked  out,  they  were  willing  and  ready  to  stab  them- 
selves, as  had  been  agreed  on  with  horrible  ingenuity,  in  order 
that  those  who  were  living  might  put  a  tobacco  pipe  into  the  inci- 
sion, and  each  in  his  turn  suck  so  many  gulphs  of  blood  to  quench 
his  thirst!  But  although  the  necessity  was  so  pressing,  they 
were  yet  unwilling  to  resort  to  this  dreadful  extremity,  and  resolved 
to  stay  one  day  more  in  hopes  of  seeing  a  ship.  The  next  day, 
no  relief  appearing,  the  two  wretched  victims  on  whom  the  lots 
had  fallen,  stabbed  themselves,  the  rest  sucked  their  blood,  and 
were  thus  revived  for  a  short  time.  They  still  continued  to  make 
signals  of  distress,  and  having  hoisted  a  piece  of  a  shirt  on  a  stick, 
it  was  at  length  seen  by  a  ship's  crew  of  Guernsey,  one  Taskard, 
master,  bound  from  that  island  to  Southampton.  They  were  all 
taken  on  board,  when  each  had  a  glass  of  cider  and  water  to 
drink,  which  refreshed  them  considerably;  but  two  of  them  eager- 
ly seizing  a  bottle,  drank  to  excess,  which  caused  the  death  of 
both  in  less  than  two  hours. 

The  most  remarkable  circumstance  connected  with  this  ship- 
wreck, is  yet  to  be  mentioned.  It  was  with  great  reluctance  that 
Taskard  brought  his  ship  near  -the  Caskets,  which  were  out  of 
his  course;  but  he  was  very  much  importuned  by  his  son,  who 
had  twice  dreamed  that  there  were  men  in  distress  upon  these 
rocks.  The  father  refused  to  notice  the  first  dream,  and  was 
angry  with  his  son;  nor  would  he  have  yielded  on  the  second,  if 
there  riad  been  a  favorable  wind  to  go  on  his  own  course. 


A    POLITE    SEA-ROBBER.  173 


A  POLITE  SEA-ROBBER. 

We  often  read  of  extremely  polite  and  gentlemanly  highwaymen, 
who  rob  with  such  marvellous  courtesy  that  a  man  can  hardly  feel 
it  in  his  heart  to  withhold  his  watch,  his  purse,  or  aught  of  goods 
and  chattels  that  he  may  chance  to  have  about  him. — But  it  is 
quite  otherwise  with  your  sea  robbers,  alias  pirates,  who  are  rep- 
resented as  a  most  brutal  and  unfeeling  set,  who  have  not  the  least 
dasli  of  politeness  about  them,  to  redeem  their  characters  from 
unmitigated  odium.  Such  being  their  general  reputation,  it  is 
with  no  slight  feeling  of  relief  that  we  read  the  account  of  so  pol- 
ished and  courteous  a  villain  as  the  one  described  below.  It  is 
extracted  from  the  "  Adventures  of  a  Wanderer."  He  had  ship- 
ped at  JVew  Orleans,  on  board  the  Governor  Griswold,  bound  to 
Havana  and  Liverpool,  as  steward: — 

We  got  (says  he)  under  way,  and  proceeded  down  the  river 
until  we  came  to  a  place  called  the  English  Turn,  when  a  boat, 
manned  by  twelve  or  fourteen  men,  came  off  from  shore,  and 
when  they  had  arrived  within  hail  they  called  to  us  and  asked  if 
we  wanted  a  pilot.  The  Captain  answered,  "No;"  whereupon 
the  man  in  the  stern  of  the  boat  ordered  one  of  the  men  to  throw 
him  a  rope.  The  rope  was  handed  him,  and  it  being  made  fast 
to  the  boat,  he  came  alongside.  He  ascended  the  ladder,  and 
came  on  board  with  all  his  men,  excepting  four  who  remained  in 
the  boat.  The  captain  of  these  desperadoes  was  a  tall  man,  dark 
complexioned,  and  terrible  in  aspect.  His  eye  was  black  and 
piercing,  his  nose  slightly  Roman,  and  he  wore  a  huge  pair  of 
sable  mustachios.  His  men  were  a  ferocious  looking  band,  har- 
dy and  sun  burnt.  He  saluted  the  captain  in  a  courteous  manner, 
and  was  profuse  in  compliments. 

His  men,  who  wore  long  red  Indian  stockings,  red  caps,  and 
were  armed  with  pistols  and  knives,  sauntered  carelessly  about 
the  deck. 

The  pirate  captain  asked  our  captain  where  he  was  bound;  he 
ans-.vered  correctly,  "  To  Liverpool  via  Havana." 

Our  captain  then  cut  short  the  interrogation  of  the  pirate,  by 
saving,  "  I  know  your  business." 

The  pirate  then  turned  to  our  crew,  and  asked  them  what  sort 
of  u>ao;e  they  had  received  since  they  left  Europe. 

"  Tolerable,"  they  replied,  <;  but  very  little  grog." 

The  pirate  then  called  for  the  steward.  I  made. my  appearance. 
"  Have  you.  plenty  of  grog  on  board?"  inquired  he. 

I  replied  in  the  affirmative.  "Fill  up  that  bucket,"  said  he, 
"  and  carry  it  down  the  forecastle  for  the  men  to  drink."  I  took 
up  the  bucket  at  which  he  pointed,  carried  it  into  the  cabin,  and 


174  A    POLITE    SEA-ROBBER. 

filled   it   with  liquor.     I  then  took  it  forward  to  the  forecastle, 
where  the  men  received  it  and  conveyed  it  below. 

As  soon  as  the  crew  had  got  below,  and  were  assembled  aroum 
the  bucket,  the  pirate  placed  two  of  his  men  upon  the  scuttle  t< 
prevent  any  of  the  crew  from  coming  on  deck,  while  he  with  tw< 
of  his  gang  stuck  close  to  the  captain  and  mate. — "Now,  stew- 
ard," said  the  pirate,  "  go  down  and  invite  all  your  passengers  t( 
come  on  deck."  I  did  as  I  was  ordered.  Our  passengers  were 
a  lady  and  two  small  children,  and  a  gentleman  who  had  been  en- 
gaged in  teaching  a  school  in  New  Orleans,  but  having  received 
a  letter  purporting  that  the  death  of  a  near  relation  had  left  him 
heir  to  a  largf  fortune,  had  embarked  for  his  home,  which  was 
London. 

These  persons  came  on  deck.  The  lady  was  much  frightened, 
but  the  pirate  told  her  to  be  under  no  apprehension,  and  soothed 
her  with  language  which  would  not  have  disgraced  the  court  of 
Great  Britain.  The  pirate  now  gave  orders  to  bring  up  the  gen- 
tleman's trunk.  The  trunk  was  laid  at  his  feet. — "Now"  said 
he,  "bring  up  all  the  captain  and  mate's  property."  They  also 
were  produced. 

He  then  proceeded  to  overhaul  the  captain's  trunk,  which  con- 
tained u  no  great  shakes." 

'Captain,  you  have  a  very  poor  kit1'  said  he,  with  a  scornful 
smile. 

The  pirate  then  examined  the  passenger's  trunk.  Jt  contained 
about  four  hundred  and  forty  dollars  in  specie.  In  rummaging  the 
trunk,  the  pirate  fell  in  with  the  letter  containing  the  information 
in  respect  to  the  fortune  which  had  been  left  the  passenger. 
This  letter  the  pirate  read,  and  giving  a  significant  glance  at  the 
fortunate  man  whose  direction  it  bore,  folded  it  up  carefully  and 
laid  it  down. 

He  then  turned  to  the  captain,  and  asked  him  if  the  man  had 
paid  his  passage.  '  No,'  answered  the  captain.  '  How  much  does 
his  passage  cost?'  inquired  the  pirate.  '  Two  hundred  and  twenty 
dollars,'  replied  the  captain.  'That  you  must  lose,'  said  the 
pirate. 

Then  turning  to  the  passenger — '  You,'  said  he,  '  I  will  treat 
fairly!  You  will  want,'  continued  the  pirate,  'when  you  arrive 
at  Liverpool,  two  dollars  to  pay  the  porter  for  carrying  your  trunk ; ' 
he  laid  down  the  money;  'your  passage  to  London  will  cost  you 
,£2  10s,'  he  counted  it  out  and  placed  it  with  the  two  dollars; 
your  dinner  will  come  to  five  shillings,  and  you  may  want  £3,  more 
to  treat  some  of  your  friends,7  he  laid  down  the  money  with  the 
rest,  '  arid  for  fear  that  will  not  be  sufficient,  here  are  twenty-five 
dollars  more.'  He  presented  the  amount  of  these  several  items 
to  the  passenger,  gave  the  remainder  to  one  of  his  gang,  and  told 
him  to  pass  it  into  the  boat.  He  then  very  courteously  asked  the 
time  of  day.  The  captain  pulled  out  a  fine  watch,  and  answered 


A   POLITE    SEA-ROBBER.  175 

that  it  was  half  past  three.  '  Your  watch  takes  my  fancy  mightily,' 
said  the  pirate,  and  taking  it  from  the  captain,  he  put  it  into  his  fob 
with  orreat  nonchalance,  and  walked  away  to  the  forecastle.  '  Come 
up  here  two  of  you  who  are  sober,'  said  he.  Two  of  them  stum- 
bled up,  and  the  rest  came  reeling  after. 

"  Go  down  into  the  cabin,  and  bring  me  up  all  the  small  arms 
you  .can  find,"  said  the  pirate.  The  two  first  sailors  went  down, 
and  soon  returned  with  an  old  fowling  piece  and  a  pair  of  pistols. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  turningtothe  sailors,  "  if  any  of  you,  boys,  wish 
to  change  your  situation  for  better  pay  and  a  shorter  passage,  I 
will  give  you  a  chance;  for  rent  I  am  after  and  rent  I'll  have! 
But  stop!"  cried  he,  "  this  lady  I  had  almost  forgotten;  come  here, 
madam,  and  let  me  hear  a  little  of  your  worldly  concerns. " 

She  immediately  commenced  an  eloquent  harangue,  accompa- 
nied with  tears.  She  had  gone  on  for  some  time  in  this  manner, 
when  the  pirate  immediately  cried,  'Avast!  avast!  there,  that's 
enough,  I'd  sooner  face  the  battery  of  a  ninety-eight,  than  stem 
the  torrent  of  female  eloquence!" 

He  then  ordered  some  brandy  for  himself  and  his  men. 

The  liquor,  was  brought;  I  poured  out  a  glassful  for  him,  when 
he  said,  "  Stop!  captain  just  be  so  good  as  to  drink  this  off  your- 
self! after  you  is  manners.  I  don't  know  what  some  of  you  Yan- 
kee inventors  may  have  put  into  this  liquor.  You  may  have 
thrown  an  onyx  in  the  cup.  The  captain  drank  it  off  readily. 
The  pirate  eyed  the  captain  closely  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
said  to  his  followers,  "  Come,  my  boys,  we  may  venture,"  and  the 
decanter  was  soon  drained  of  its  contents.  The  pirate  then  point- 
ed to  the  maintop,  and  requested  the  captain  to  take  a  walk  up 
that  way.  "And  you,  Mr.  Mate,  "said  he,  "  begin  to  travel  up  the 
forerigging.  But  mind!"  said  he,  "  stop  when  I  tell  you!"  The 
captain  and  mate  had  proceeded  half  way  up  the  lower  rigging, 
when  he  summoned  them  to  halt.  The  captain  was  about  stepping 
upon  the  next  rattling,  when  the  pirate  again  hailed  him — "  If  you 
stir  an  inch  backward  or  forward,"  said  he,  "you  will  comedown 
faster  than  you  went  up."  The  captain  looked  down  and  saw 
jseveral  pistols  levelled  at  him,  ready  to  be  discharged  on  the  in- 
stant. He  then  remained  stationary. 

Then  the  pirate  taking  off  his  cap,  addressed  the  passengers. 
He  told  them  he  was  once  poor  himself,  and  therefore  knew  how 
to  sympathize  with  persons  in  distress.  He  hoped  they  would  be 
grateful  for  the  lenity  which  he  had  shown  them,  and  then  wish- 
ing them  a  pleasant  voyage,  he  stepped  over  the  side  into  his  boat, 
•  and  was  soon  lost  to  our  view  beneath  the  foliage  of  the  thick 
underwood  which  lined  the  shore  and  hung  over  the  green 
wave. 


176  FEELINGS    EXCITED   BY    A    LONG   VOYAGE. 


THE  SEA-BIRD'S  SONG.— BY  j.  G.  BRAINARD. 

On  the  deep  is  the  mariner's  danger, 

On  the  deep  is  the  mariner's  death ; 
Who  to  fear  of  the  tempest  a  stranger, 
Sees  the  last  bubble  burst  of  his  breath  ? 

'T  is  the  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird, 

Lone  looker  on  despair, 
The  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird, 
The  only  witness  there. 

Who  watches  their  course  who  so  mildly, 

Career  to  the  kiss  of  the  breeze  ? 
Who  lists  to  their  shrieks,  who  so  wildly 

Are  clasped  in  the  arms  of  the  seas  ! 

'Tis  the  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  &c. 

Who  hovers  on  high  o'er  the  lover, 
And  her  who  has  clung  to  his  neck? 

Whose  wing  is  the  wing  that  can  cover, 
With  its  shadows  the  foundering  wreck  ? 

'Tis  the  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  &c. 

My  eye  is  the  light  of  the  billow, 

My  wing  on  the  wake  of  the  wave — 

I  shall  take  to  my  breast — for  a  pillow — 
The  shroud  of  the  fair  and  the  brave — 

I'm  the  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  &c. 

My  foot  on  the  ice-berg  has  lighted 

When  hoarse  the  wild  winds  veer  about, 
My  eye  when  the  bark  is  benighted 

Sees  the  lamp  of  the  light-house  go  out. 
I'm  the  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird, 

Lone  looker  on  despair, 
The  sea-bird,  sea-bird,  sea-bird, 
The  only  witness  there. 


FEELINGS    EXCITED    BY    A    LONG    VOYAGE. 

VISIT  TO  A  NEW  CONTINENT.— BY  WASHINGTON  IRVING. 

To  an  American  visiting  Europe,  the  long  voyage  he  has  to 
make  is  an  excellent  preparative.  From  the  moment  you  lose 
sight  of  the  land  you  have  left,  all  is  vacancy  until  you  step  upon 
the  opposite  shore,  and  are  launched  at  once  into  the  bustle  and 
novelties  of  another  world. 


FEELINGS  EXCITED  BY  A  LONG  VOYAGE.          177 

I  have  said  that  at  sea  all  is  vacancy.  I  should  correct  the 
expression.  To  one  given  up  to  day-dreaming,  and  fond  of  losing 
himself  in  reveries,  a  sea  voyage  is  full  of  subjects  for  meditation; 
but  then  they  are  the  wonders  of  the  deep,  and  of  the  air,  and 
rather  tend  to  abstract  the  mind  from  worldly  themes.  I  delight- 
ed to  loll  over  the  quarter  railing,  or  to  climb  to  the  main  top  on 
a  calm  day,  and  to  muse  for  hours  together  on  the  tranquil  bosom 
of  a  summer's  sea;  or  to  gaze  upon  the  piles  of  golden  clouds 
just  peering  above  the  horizon,  fancy  them  some  fairy  realms, 
and  people  them  with  a  creation  of  my  own,  or  to  watch  the  gen- 
tle undulating  billows  rolling  their  silver  volumes,  as  if  to  die 
away  on  those  happy  shores. 

There  was  a  delicious  sensation  of  mingled  security  and  awe, 
with  which  I  looked  down  from  my  giddy  height  on  the  monsters 
of  the  deep  at  their  uncouth  gambols.  Shoals  of  porpoises  tum- 
bling about  the  bow  of  the  ship;  the  grampus  slowly  heaving  his 
huge  form  above  .the  surface,  or  the  ravenous  shark,  darting  like 
a  spectre  through  the  blue  waters.  My  imagination  would  con- 
jure up  all  that  I  had  heard  or  read  of  the  watery  world  beneath 
me,  of  the  finny  herds  that  roam  its  fathomless  valleys;  of  the 
shapeless  monsters  that  lurk  among  the  very  foundations  of  the 
earth-  and  those  wild  phantasms  which  swell  the  tales  of  fish- 
ermen and  sailors. 

Sometimes  a  distant  sail  gliding  along  the  edge  of  the  ocean 
would  be  another  theme  for  idle  speculation.  How  interesting 
this  fragment  of  a  world  hastening  to  rejoin  the  great  mass  of 
existence!  What  a  glorious  monument  of  human  invention,  that 
has  thus  triumphed  over  the  wind  and  wave;  has  brought  the 
ends  of  the  earth  to  communion,  has  established  an  interchange 
of  blessings,  pouring  into  the  steril  regions  of  the  north  all  the 
luxuries  of  the  south;  diffused  the  light  of  knowledge  and  the 
charities  of  cultivated  life;  and  has  thus  bound  together  those 
scattered  portions  of  the  human  race,  between  which  nature 
seemed  to  have  thrown  an  insurmountable  barrier! 

We  one  day  descried  some  shapeless  object  drifting  at  a  dis- 
tance. At  sea  every  thing  that  breaks  the  monotony  of  the 
surrounding  expanse  attracts  the  attention.  It  proved  to  be  the 
mast  of  a  ship  that  must  have  been  completely  wrecked;  for  there 
were  the  remains  of  handkerchiefs  by  which  some  of  the  crew  had 
fastened  themselves  to  this  spar  to  prevent  their  being  washed 
off  by  the  waves.  There  was  no  trace  by  which  the  name  of  the 
ship  could  be  ascertained.  The  wreck  had  evidently  drifted 
about  many  months;  clusters  of  shell-fish  had  fastened  about  it, 
and  long  sea  weeds  flaunted  at  its  sides.  But  where,  thought  I, 
is  the  crew?  Their  struggle  has  long  been  over; — they  have 
gone  down  amidst  the  roar  of  the  tempest; — their  bones  lie 
whitening  in  the  caverns  of  the  deep.  Silence — oblivion,  like 
the  waves  have  closed  over  them,  and  no  one  -can  tell  the  story 
of  their  end. 


178          FEELINGS  EXCITED  BY  A  LONG  VOYAGE. 

What  sighs  have  been  wafted  after  that  ship!  what  prayers  of 
fered  up  at  the  deserted  fireside  of  home!  How  often  has  the 
mistress,  the  wife,  and  the  mother,  pored  over  the  daily  news,  to 
catch  some  casual  intelligence  of  this  rover  of  the  deep!  How 
has  expectation  darkened  into  anxiety — anxiety  into  dread — and 
dread  into  despair!  Alas!  not  one  memento  shall  ever  return  for 
love  to  cherish.  All  that  shall  ever  be  known  is  that  she  sailed 
from  her  port  "  and  was  never  heard  of  more." 

The  sight  of  the  wreck  as  usual  gave  rise  to  many  dismal  an- 
ecdotes. This  was  particularly  the  case  in  the  evening  when  the 
weather  which  had  hitherto  been  fair  began  to  look  wild  and 
threatening,  and  gave  indications  of  one  of  those  sudden  storms 
that  wilt  sometimes  break  in  upon  the  serenity  of  a  summer  voy- 
age. As  we  sat  around  the  dull  light  of  a  lamp,  in  the  cabin,  that 
made  the  gloom  more  ghastly,  every  one  had  his  tale  of  ship- 
wreck and  disaster.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  a  short  one 
related  by  the  captain. 

"  As  I  was  once  sailing,"  said  he,  "  in  a  fine  stout  ship,  across 
the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  one  of  the  heavy  fogs  that  prevail 
in  those  parts  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  see  far  ahead  even 
in  the  daytime;  but  at  night  the  weather  was  so  thick  that  we 
could  not  distinguish  any  object  at  twice  the  length  of  our  ship. 
I  kept  lights  at  I  he  mast  head  and  a  constant  watch  forward  to 
look  out  for  fishing-smacks,  which  are  accustomed  to  lie  at  an- 
chor on  the  banks.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  smacking  breeze, 
and  we  were  going  at  a  great  rate  through  the  water.  Suddenly 
the  watch  gave  the  alarm  of  "  a  sail  ahead!"  but  it  was  scarcely 
uttered  till  we  were  upon  her.  She  was  a  small  schooner  at 
anchor  with  her  broad  side  towards  us.  The  crew  were  all 
asleep,  and  had  neglected  to  hoist  a  light.  We  struck  her  just 
amid-ships.  The  force,  the  size,  and  weight  of  our  vessel,  bore 
her  down  below  the  waves;  we  passed  over  her  and  were  hurried 
on  our  course. 

"As  the  crashing  wreck  was  sinking  beneath  us,  I  had  a  glimpse 
of  two  or  three  half  naked  wretches,  rushing  from  her  cabin; 
they  had  just  started  from  their  cabins  to  be  swallowed  shrieking 
by  the  waves.  I  heard  their  drowning  cry  mingled  with  the 
wind.  The  blast  that  bore  it  to  our  ears  swept  us  out  of  all  far- 
ther hearing.  I  shall  never  forget  that  cry!  It  was  some  time 
before  we  could  put  the  ship  about,  she  was  under  such  headway. 
We  returned  as  nearly  as  we  could  guess  to  the  place  where  the 
ship  was  anchored.  We  cruised  about  for  several  hours  in  the 
dense  fog.  We  fired  several  guns,  and  listened  if  we  might 
hear  the  hallo  of  any  survivors;  but  all  was  silent — we  never  heard 
nor  saw  any  thing  of  them  more!" 

It  was  a  fine  sunny  morning  when  the  thrilling  cry  of  land! 
was  given  from  the  mast-head.  I  question  whether  Columbus, 
when  he  discovered  the  new  world,  felt  a  more  delicious  throng 


FEELINGS  EXCITED  BY  A  LONG  VOYAGE.  179 

of  sensations'  than  rush  into  an  American's  bosom  when  he  first 
conies  in  sight  of  Europe.  There  is  a  volume  of  associations  in 
the  very  name.  It  is  that  land  of  promise,  teeming  with  every 
thing  of  which  his  childhood  has  heard,  or  on  which  his  studious 
years  have  pondered. 

From  that  time  until  the  period  of  our  arrival  it  was  all  feverish 
excitement.  The  ships  of  war  that  prowled  like  guardian  giants 
round  the  coast;  the  headlands  of  Ireland  stretching  out  into  the 
channel;  the  Welsh  mountains  towering  into  the  clouds;  all  were 
objects  of  intense  interest.  As  we  sailed  up  the  Mersey,.!  recon- 
noitred the  shores  with  a  telescope.  My  eye  dwelt  with  delight 
on  neat  cottages,  with  their  trim  shrubberies  and  green  grass 
pl->ts.  I  saw  the  mouldering  ruins  of  an  abbey  overrun  with  ivy, 
and  the  taper  spire  of  a  village  church  rising  from  the  brow  of 
a  neighboring  hill — all  were  characteristic  of  England. 

The  tide  and  wind  were  so  favorable,  that  the  ship  was  enabled 
to  come  at  once  at  the  pier.  It  was  thronged  with  people;  some 
idle  lookers-on,  others  eager  expectants  of  some  friends  or  rela- 
tives. I  could  distinguish  the  merchant  to  whom  the  ship  be- 
longed. I  knew  him  by  his  calculating  brow  and  restless  air. 
His  hands  were  thrust  into  his  pockets;  he  was  whistling  thought- 
fully, and  walking  to  and  fro,  a  small  space  having  been  accord- 
ed to  him  by  the  crowd,  in  deference  to  his  temporary  importance. 
There  were  repeated  cheerings  and  salutations  interchanged  be- 
tween the  shore  and  the  ship,  as  friends  happened  to  recognise 
each  other. 

But  I  particularly  noted  one  young  woman  of  humble  dress, 
but  interesting  demeanor.  She  was  leaning  forward  from  among 
the  crowd,  her  eye  hurried  o'er  the  ship,  as  it  neared  the  shore, 
to  catch  some  wished  for  countenance.  She  seemed  disappoint- 
ed and  agitated  when  I  heard  a  faint  voice  call  her  name.  It 
was*from  a  poor  sailor,  who  had  been  ill  all  the  voyage,  and  had 
excited  the  sympathy  of  every  one  on  board.  When  the  weath- 
er was  fine,  his  messmates  had  spread  a  mattrass  for  him  on  deck 
in  the  shade,  but  of  late  his  illness  had  so  increased  that  he  had 
taken  to  his  hammock,  and  had  only  breathed  a^  wish  that  he 
might  see  his  wife  before  he  died. 

He  had  been  helped  on  deck  as  we  came  up  the  river,  and 
was  now  leaning  against  the  shrouds,  with  a  countenance  so 
wasted,  so  pale  and  so  ghastly,  that  it  is  no  wonder  the  eye  of 
affection  did  not  recognise  him.  But  at  the  sound  of  his  voice 
her  eye  darted  on  his  features,  it  read  at  once  the  whole  volume 
of  sorrow;  she  clasped  her  hands,  uttered  a  faint  shriek,  and 
stood  wringing  them  in  silent  agony. 

All  was  now  hurry  and  bustle.  The  meeting  of  acquaintances 
— the  greetings  of  friends — the  consultations  of  men  of  business. 
I  alone  was  solitary  and  idle.  I  had  no  friend  to  n>eet,  no  cheer- 
ing to  receive.  I  stepped  upon  the  land  of  my  forefathers — but 
felt  that  I  was  a  stranger  in  the  land. 


180 


FORTY-FIVE  DAYS'  SUFFERINGS. 

Captain  David  Harrison,  who  commanded  a  sloop  of  New 
York,  called  the  Peggy,  has  left  a  melancholy  narrative  of  the 
sufferings  of  himself  and  his  crew,  during  a  voyage  from  Fayal, 
one  of  the  Azores,  in  1769.  A  storm  which  had  continued  for 
some  days,  successively  blew  away  the  sails  and  shrouds;  and 
on  the  1st  of  December,  one  shroud  on  a  side  and  the  main  sail 
alone  remained.  In  this  situation  they  could  make  very  little 
way,  and  all  their  provisions  were  exhausted,  except  bread,  of 
which  but  a  small  quantity  was  left;  they  came  at  last  to  an  al- 
lowance of  a  quarter  of  a  pound  a  day,  with  a  quart  of  water  and 
a  pint  of  wine,  for  each  man. 

The  ship  was  now  become  very  leaky;  the  waves  were  swelled 
into  mountains  by  the  storm,  and  the  thunder  rolled  incessantly 
over  their  heads  in  one  dreadful  almost  unintermitting  peal.  In 
this  frightful  dilemma,  either  of  sinking  with  the  wreck,  or  float- 
ing in  her  and  perishing  with  hunger,  two  vessels  came  in  sight; 
but  such  was  the  tempest  that  neither  could  approach,  and  they 
saw  with  sensations  more  bitter  than  death  itself,  the  vessels  that 
would  willingly  have  relieved  them  disappear.  The  allowance 
of  bread  and  water,  though  still  farther  contracted,  soon  exhaust- 
e(j  their  stores,  every  morsel  of  food  was  finished,  and  only  about 
two  gallons  of  water  remained  in  the  bottom  of  the  cask.  The 
poor  fellows  who,  while  they  had  any  sustenance,  continued  obe- 
dient to  the  captain,  were  now  driven  by  desperation  to  excess; 
they  seized  upon  the  cargo,  and  because  wine  and  brandy  were 
all  they  had  left,  they  drank  of  both  till  the  frenzy  of  hunger  was 
increased  by  drunkenness,  and  curses  and  blasphemy  were  blend- 
ed with  exclamations  of  distress.  The  dregs  of  the  water  cask 
were  abandoned  to  the  captain,  who,  abstaining  as  much  as  posj 
sible  from  wine,  husbanded  them  with  the  greatest  economy. 

In  the  midst  *of  these  horrors,  this  complication  of  want  and 
excess,  of  distraction  and  despair,  they  espied  another  sail. 
Every  eye  was.  instantly  turned  towards  it;  the  signal  of  distress 
was  hung  out,  and  they  had  the  unspeakable  satisfaction  of  being 
near  enough  to  the  ship  to  communicate  their  situation.  Relief 
was  promised  by  the  captain;  but  this,  alas!  was  but  "  the  mock- 
ery of  wo;"  and  instead  of  sending  the  relief  he  had  promised, 
the  unfeeling  wretch  crowded  all  sail,  and  left  the  distressed  crew 
to  all  the  agony  of  despair  which  misery  and  disappointment 
could  occasion. 

The  crew  once  more  deserted,  and  cut  off  from  their  last  hope, 
were  still  prompted  by  an  intuitive  love  of  life  to  preserve  it  as 
'ong  as  possible.  The  only  living  creatures  on  board  the  vessel, 


FORTY-FIVE    DAYS*    SUFFERINGS.  181 

besides  themselves,  were  two  pigeons  and  a  cat.  The  pigeons 
were  killed  immediately,  and  divided  among  them  for  their  christ- 
mas  dinner;  the  next  day  they  killed  the  cat;  and  as  there  were 
nine  persons  to  partake  of  the  repast,  they  divided  her  into  nine 
parts,  which  they  disposed  of  by  lot.  The  head  fell  to  the  share 
of  Captain  Harrison,  and  he  declared  that  he  never  eat  any  thing 
that  he  thought  so  delicious  in  his  life. 

The  next  day  the  crew  began  to  scrape  the  ship's  bottom  for 
barnacles;  but  the  waves  had  beaten  off  those  above  water,  and 
the  men  were  too  weak  to  hang  long  over  the  ship's  side.  During 
all  this  time,  the  poor  wretches  sought  only  to  forget  their  misery 
in  intoxication;  and  while  they  were  continually  heating  wine  in 
the  steerage,  the  captain  subsisted  upon  the  dirty  water  at  the 
bottom  of  the  cask,  half  a  pint  of  which,  with  a  few  drops  of  Tur- 
lington's Balsam,  was  his  whole  sustenance  for  twenty-four  hours. 

To  add  to  their  calamity,  they  had  neither  candle  nor  oil;  and 
they  were  in  consequence  compelled  to  pass  sixteen  hours  out  of 
the  twentv-four  in  total  darkness,  except  the  glimmering  light  of 
the  fire.  Still  however,  by  the  help  of  their  only  sail,  they  made 
a  little  way;  but  on  the  28th  of  December,  another  storm  over- 
took them,  which  blew  their  only  sail  to  rags.  The  vessel  now 
lay  like  a  wreck  on  the  water,  and  was  wholly  at  the  mercy  of 
the  winds  and  waves. 

How  they  subsisted  from  this  time  to  the  13th  of  January,  six- 
teen days,  does  not  appear,  as  their  biscuit  had  been  long  ex- 
hausted, and  the  last  bit  of  animal  food  which  they  tasted,  was 
the  cat  on  the  26th  of  December;  yet  on  the  13th  of  January  they 
were  all  alive,  and  the  crew,  with  the  mate  at  their  head,  came 
to  the  captain  in  the  cabin,  half  drunk  indeed,  but  with  sufficient 
sensibility  to  express  the  horror  of  their  purpose  in  their  counte- 
nances. They  said  they  could  hold  out  no  longer,  their  tobacco 
was  exhausted;  they  had  eaten  up  all  the  leather  .belonging  to 
the  purnp,  and  even  the  buttons  from  their  jackets;  and  that  now 
they  had  no  means  of  preventing  their  perishing  together,  but  by 
casting  lots  which  of  them  should  be  sacrificed  for  the  sustenance 
of  the  rest.  The  Captain  endeavcyred  to  divert  them  from  their 
purpose  until  the  next  day,  but  in  vain;  they  became  outrageous, 
and  with  execrations  of  peculiar  horror,  swore  that  what  was  to 
be  done,  must  be  done  immediately;  that  it  was  indifferent  to 
them  whether  he  acquiesced  or  dissented:  and  that  though  they 
had  paid  him  the  compliment  of  acquainting  him  with  their  reso- 
lution, yet  they  would  compel  him  to  take  his  chance  with  the 
rest,  for  general  misfortune  put  an  end  to  personal  distinction. 

The  Captain  resisted,  but  in  vain;  the  men  retired  to  decide 
on  the  fate  of  some  victim,  and  in  a  fe.w  minutes  returned,  and 
said  the  lot  had  fallen  on  the  negro,  who  was  part  of  the  cargo. 
The  poor  fellow  knowing  what  had  been  determined  against  him, 
and  seeing  one  of  the  crew  loading  a  pistol  to  despatch  him,  im- 

16 


182 

plored  the  Captain  to  save  his  life;  but  he  was  instantly  dragged 
•to  the  steerage,  and  shot  through  the  head. 

Having  made  a  large  fire,  they  began  to  cut  the  negro  up 
almost  as  soon  as  he  was  dead,  intending  to  fry  his  entrails  for 
supper;  but  James  Campbell  one  of  the  foremast  men,  being 
ravenously  impatient  for  food,  tore  the  liver  out  of  the  body,  and 
devoured  it  raw;  the  remainder  of  the  crew,  however,  dressed  the 
meat,  and  continued  their  dreadful  banquet  until  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning. 

The  next  day  the  crew  pickled  the  remainder  of  the  negro's 
body,  except  the  head  and  fingers,  which,  by  common  consent, 
they  threw  overboard.  The  Captain  refused  to  taste  any  part 
of  it,  and  continued  to  subsist  on  the  dirty  water.  On  the  third 
day  after  the  death  of  the  negro,  Campbell,  who  had  devoured 
the  liver  raw,  died  raving  mad,  and  his  body  was  thrown  over- 
board, the  crew  dreading  the  consequences  of  eating  it.  The 
negro's  body  was  husbanded  with  rigid  economy,  and  lasted  the 
crew,  now  consisting  of  six  persons,  from  the  13th  to  the  26th  of 
January,  when  they  wete  again  reduced  to  total  abstinence,  ex- 
cept their  wine.  This  they  endured  until  the  29th,  when  the 
mate  again  came  to  the  Captain  at  the  head  of  the  men,  and  told 
him  it  was  now  become  necessary  that  they  should  cast  lots  a 
second  time.  The  captain  endeavored  again  to  reason  them 
from  their  purpose,  but  without  success;  and  therefore  consider- 
ing that  if  they  managed  the  lot  without  him,  he  might  not  have 
fair  play,  consented  to  see  it  decided. 

The  lot  now  fell  upon  David  Flat,  a  foremast  man.  The  shock 
of  the  decision  Was  so  great,  that  the  whole  company  remained 
motionless  and  silent  for  some  time;  when  the  poor  victim,  who 
appeared  perfectly  resigned,  broke  silence,  and  said,  "  My  dear 
friends,  messmates,  and  fellow  sufferers,  all  I  have  to  beg  of  you 
is,  to  despatch  me  as  soon  as  you  did  the  negro,  and  to  put  me  to 
as  little  torture  as  possible."  Then  turning  to  one  Doud,  the 
man  who  shot  the  negro,  he  said,  "It  is  my  desire  that  you  should 
shoot  me."  Doud  reluctantly  consented.  The  victim  begged  a 
short  time  to  prepare  himself  .for  death,  to  which  his  companions 
most  readily  agreed.  Flat  was  much  respected  by  the  whole 
ship's  company,  and  during  this  awful  interval,  they  seemed  incli- 
ned to  save  his  life;  yet  finding  no  alternative  but  to  perish  with 
him,  and  having  in  some  measure  lulled  their  sense  of  horror  at 
the  approaching  scene  by  a  few  draughts  of  wine,  they  prepared 
for  the  execution,  and  a  fire  was  kindled  in  the  steerage  to  dress 
their  first  meal  as  soon  as  their  companion  should  become  their 
food. 

As  the  dreadful  momenfcapproached,  their  compunction  increas- 
ed, and  friendship  and  humanity  at  length  triumphed  over  hunger 
and  death.  They  determined  that  Flat  should  live  at  least  until 
eleven  o'  clock  the  next  morning,  hoping,  as  they  said,  that  the 


FORTY-FIVE    DAYS*    SUFFERINGS  183 

Divine  Goodness  would  in  the  meantime  open  some  other  source 
of  relief..  At  the  same  time  they  begged  the  captain  to  read 
prayers;  a  task  which,  with  the  utmost  effort  of  his  collected 
strength,  he  was  scarcely  able  to  perform.  As  soon  as  prayers 
were  over,  the  company  went  to  their  unfortunate  friend,  Flat,  and 
with  great  earnestness  and  affection  expressed  their  hopes  that 
God  would  interpose  for  his  preservation;  and  assuring  him,  that 
though  they  never  yet  could  catch  or  even  see  a  fish,  yet  they 
would  put  out  all  their  hooks  again  to  try  if  any  relief  could  b* 
procured. 

Poor  Flat,  however,  could  derive  little  comfort  from  the  concern 
they  expressed;  and  it  is  not  improbable,  that  their  friendship  and 
affection  increased  the  agitation  of  his  mind;  such,  however,  it 
was.  that  he  could  not  sustain  it,  for  before  midnight,  he  grew  al- 
most totally  deaf,  and  by  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  was  raving 
mad.  His  messmates,  who  discovered  the  alteration,  debated 
whether  it  would  be  an  act  of  humanity  to  despatch  him  immedi- 
ately; but  the  first  resolution,  of  sparing  him  till  eleven  o'clock, 
prevailed. 

About  eight  in  the  morning,  as  the  captain  was  ruminating  in 
his  cabin  on  the  fate  of  this  unhappy  wretch,  who  had  but  three 
hours  to  live,  two  of  his  people  carne  hastily  down,  with  uncom- 
mon ardor  in  their  looks,  and  seizing  both  his  hands,  fixed  their 
eyes  upon  him  without  saying  a  word.  A  sail  had  been  discov- 
ered, and  the  sight  had  so  far  overcome  them,  that  they  were  for 
some  time  unable  to  speak.  The  account  of  a  vessel  being  in 
sight  of  signals,  struck  the  captain  with  such  excessive  and  tumult- 
uous joy,  that  he  was  very  near  expiring  under  it.  As  soon  as 
he  could  speak,  he  directed  every  possible  signal  of~distress. 
His  orders  were  obeyed  with  the  utmost  alacrity;  and  as  he  lay 
in  his  cabin,  he  had  the  inexpressible  happiness  of  hearing  them 
jumping  upon  deck,  and  crying  out,  "She  nighs  us,  she  nighs 
us!  she  is  standing  this  way." 

The  approach  of  the  ship  being  more  and  ipore  manifest  every 
moment,  their  hopes  naturally  increased,  and  they  proposed  a  can 
to  be  taken  immediately  for  joy.  The  captain  dissuaded  them  all 
from  it,  except  the  mate,  who  retired,  and  drank  it  to  himself. 

After  continuing  to  observe  the  progress  of  the  vessel  for  some 
hours,  with  all  the  tumult  and  agitation  of  mind  that  such  a  sus- 
pense could  not  fail  to  produce,  they  had  the  mortification  to  find 
the  gale  totally  die  away,  so  that  the  vessel  was  becalmed  at  only 
two  miles  distance.  They  did  not,  however,  suffer  long  from  this 
circumstance,  for  in  a  few  minutes  they  saw  a  boat  put  out  from 
the  ship's  stern,  and  row  towards  them  fully  manned,  and  with 
vigorous  despatch.  As  they  had  been  twice  before  confident  of 
deliverance,  and  disappointed,  and  as  they  still  considered  them- 
selves tottering  on  the  brink  of  eternity,  the  conflict  between  their 
hopes  and  fears,  during  the  approach  of  the  boat,  was  dreadful. 


184  THE    GRECIAN    MARINER'S    SONG. 

At  length,  however,  she  came  alongside;  but  the  appearance  of 
the  crew  was  so  ghastly,  that  the  men  rested  upon  their  oars,  and 
with  looks  of  inconceivable  astonishment  asked  what  they  were? 

Being  at  length  satisfied,  they  came  on  board,  and  begged  the 
people  to  use  the  utmost  expedition  in  quitting  the  wreck,  lest 
they  should  be  overtaken  by  a  gale  of  wind,  that  would  prevent 
their  getting  back  to  the  ship.  The  captain  being  unable  to  stir, 
was  lifted  out  of  his  cabin,  and  lowered  into  the  boat  with  ropes; 
his  people  followed  him,  with  poor  Flat  still  raving;  and  they  were 
just  putting  off,  when  one  of  them  observed,  that  the  mate  was 
still  wanting.  He  was  immediately  called  .to,  and  the  can  of  joy 
had  just  left  him  power  to  crawl  to  the  gunnel,  with  a  look  of 
idiotic  astonishment,  having  to  all  appearance  forgot  every  thing 
that  had  happened.  The  poor  drunken  creature  was  with  difficul- 
ty got  into  the  boat,  and  in  about  an  hour  they  all  reached  the  ship 
in  safety,  which  was  the  Susannah  of  London,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Evers.  He  received  them  with  the  greatest  tender 
ness  and  humanity,  and  promised  to  lay  by  the  wreck  until  the 
next  morning,  that  he  might,  if  possible,  save  some  of  Captain 
Harrison's  property;  but  the  wind  blowing  very  hard  before  night, 
he  was  obliged  to  quit  her,  and  she  probably,  with  her  cargo,  went 
to  the  bottom  before  morning. 

The  crew  had  been  without  provisions  forty-jive  days.  The 
mate,  James  Doud,  who  shot  the  negro,  and  one  Warner,  a  sea- 
man, died  on  the  passage.  The  remainder,  including  Flat,  who 
continued  mad  during  the  voyage,  arrived  safe  in  the  Susannah,  in 
the  Downs,  in  the  beginning  of  March;  whence  Captain  Harrison 
proceeded  on  shore,  and  made  the  proper  attestation  on  oath  of 
the  facts  related  in  this  melancholy  narrative. 


THE  GRECIAN  MARINER'S  SONG. 

BY   THOMAS    MOORE,    ESQ. 

Our  home  is  on  the  sea,  boy, 
Our  home  is  on  the  sea — 
When  nature  gave 
The  ocean  wave, 
She  marked  it  for  the  free. 
Whatever  storms  befall,  boy, 
WhatP-ver  storms  befall, 
The  island  bark, 
Is  freedom's  ark, 
And  floats  her  safe  through  all. 

Behold  yon  sea  of  isles,  boy, 
Behold  yon  sea  of  isles, 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  185 

Where  every  shore, 

Is  sparkling  o'er, 
With  beauty's  richest  smiles. 
For  us  hath  freedom  claimed,  boy, 
For  us  hath  freedom  claimed 

Those  ocean  nests 

Where  valor  rests 
His  eagle  wing  untamed. 

And  shall  the  Moslem  dare,  boy, 
And  shall  the  Moslem  dare, 

While  Grecian  hand 

Can  wield  a  brand, 
To  plant  his  crescent  there  ! 
No  ! — by  our  fathers,  no,  boy, 
No !  by  the  cross  we  show — 

From  Maina's  rills 

To  Thracia's  hills, 
All  Greece  reechoes  "  No  !" 


MONSIEUR  DE  LA  PEROUSE. 

France  becoming  jealous  of  the  renown  acquired  by  the  Eng- 
lish circumnavigators,  determined  to  send  out  an  expedition, 
which,  in  its  scientific  equipments,  should  vie  with  them  in  every 
respect.  Two  ships  were 'appointed  to  this  service,  the  Boussole 
and  Astrolabe,  the  former  commanded  by  La  Perouse,  the  latter 
by  M.  de  Langle,  both  captains  in  the  navy,  and  men  of  consid- 
erable attainments,  besides  being  assisted  by  men  of  science  and 
artists.  The  voyage  is  interesting  as  far  as  it  goes;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, the  ships,  after  quitting  Botany  Bay,  in  1788,  have 
never  since  been  heard  of,  to  the  regret  of  all  lovers  of  science 
and  humanity,  on  account  not  only  of  the  acquirements  but  the 
amiable  character  of  the  commander. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  1785,  they  quitted  Brest,  and,  on  the 
13th,  reached  Madeira;  they  saw  Teneriffe  on  the  19th,  and  on 
the  16th  of  October  the  island  of  Trinidada,  barren,  rocky,  and 
with  a  violent  surf  breaking  on  the  shores,  where  refreshments 
not  being  obtainable,  the  commander  steered  for  St.  Cathaune's 
on  the  Brazil  coast. 

This  island  is  extremely  fertile,  producing  all  sorts  of  fruit, 
vegetables,  and  corn,  almost  spontaneously.  It  is  covered  with 
trees  of  everlasting  green,  but  they  are  so  curiously  interwoven 
with  plants  and  briars,  that  it  is  impossible  to  pass  through  the 
forests  without  opening  a  path  with  a  hatchet:  to  add  to  the  dif- 
ficulty, danger  is  also  to  be  apprehended  from  snakes  whose  bite 
is  mortal.  ^The  habitations  are  bordering  on  the  sea.  The  woods 
are  delightfully  fragrant,  occasioned  by  the  orange-trees,  and 
other  odoriferous  plants  and  shrubs,  which  form  a  part  of  them 

16* 


186  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

On  the  14th  of  January  the  navigators  struck  ground  on  the 
coast  of  Patagonia.  On  the  25th,  La  Perouse  took  bearings  a 
league  to  the  southward  of  Cape  San  Diego  forming  the  west 
point  of  the  straits  of  Lemaire.  On  the  9th  of  February,  he  was 
abreast  of  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  Examining  the  quantity  of 
provisions  he  had  on  board,  La  Perouse  discovered  he  had  very 
little  flour  and  bread  left  in  store;  having  been  obliged  to  leave 
a  hundred  barrels  at  Brest.  The  worms  had  also  taken  possession 
of  the  biscuits,  and  consumed  or  rendered  useless  a  fifth  part  of 
them.  Under  these  circumstances,  La  Perouse  preferred  Con- 
ception to  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez.  The  Bay  of  Concep- 
ti<;:i  in  Chili  is  a  most  excellent  harbor;  the  water  is  smooth, 
and  almost  without  any  current,  though  the  tide  rises  six  feet 
three  inches. 

At.  daybreak,  on  the  15th  of  March,  La  Perouse  made  the 
signal  to  prepare  to  sail.  On  the  17th,  about  noon,  a  light  breeze 
sprung  up,  with  which  he  got  under  way.  On  the  8th  of  April, 
about  noon  they  saw  Easter  Island.  The  Indians  were  alarmed, 
except  a  few,  who  had  a  kind  of  slight  wooden  club.  Some  of 
them  assumed  an  apparent  superiority  over  the  others  which  in- 
duced La  Perouse  to  consider  the  former  as  chiefs,  but  he  soon 
discovered  that  these  selected  persons  were  the  most  notorious 
offenders.  Having  but  a  few  hours  to  remain  upon  the  island, 
and  wishing  to  employ  his  time  to  the  best  advantage,  La  Perouse 
left  the  care  of  the  tent,  and  other  particulars,  to  his  first  lieuten- 
ant M.  D'Escures.  A  division  was  then  made  of  the  persons  en- 
gaged in  the  adventure;  one  part,  under  the  command  of  M.  De 
Langle,  was  to  penetrate  .into  the  interior"of  the  island  to  en- 
courage and  promote  vegetation,  by  disseminating  seed,  &c.  in  a 
proper  soil;  and  the  other  division  undertook  to  visit  the  monu- 
ments, plantations,  and  habitations,  within  the  compass  of  a  league 
of  the  establishment.  The  largest  of  the  rude  busts  upon  one  of 
the  terraces  is  fourteen  feet  six  inches  in  height,  and  the  breadth 
and  other  particulars  appeared  to  be  proportionate. 

Returning  about  noon  to  the  tent,  La  Perouse  found  almost 
e  cry  man  without  either  hat  or  handkerchief;  so  much  had  for- 
IK  ar;i:!C.e  encouraged  the  audacity  of  the  thieves,  that  he  also  ex- 
{•«••;  i<-nced  a  similar  depredation.  An  Indian,  who  had  assisted 
him  in  descending  from  a  terrace,  rewarded  himself  for  his  trouble 
l»y  taking  away  his  hat.  Some  of  them  had  dived  under  water, 
cu!  ihe  small  cable  of  the  Astrolabe's  boat,  and  taken  away  her 
^r  :;  i;ci.  A  sort  of  chief,  to  whom  M.  De  Langle  made  a  present 
o!'  -i  male  and  female  goat,  received  the  animals  with  one  hand, 
a<ul  robbed  him  of  his  handkerchief  with  the  other. 

On  the  28th  of  May,  they  saw  the  mountains  of  Owhyhee, 
covered  with  snow,  and  afterwards  those  of  Mowee,  which  are 
!cs  ;  elevated.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  canoes  were  seen 
nutting  off  from  the  shore,  laden  with  fruit  and  hogs,  which  the 


MONSIEUR   DE    LA    PEROUSE.  187 

Indians  proposed  to  exchange  for  pieces  of  iron  of  the  French 
navigators.  Most  of  them  came  on  board  of  one  or  the  other  of 
the  vessels,  but  they  proceeded  so  fast  through  the  water  that 
they  filled  along-side.  The  Indians  were  obliged  to  quit  the  ropes 
thrown  them,  and  leaping  into  the  sea  swam  after  their  hogs,  when 
taking  them  in  their  arms,  they  emptied  their  canoes  of  the  water, 
and  resumed  their  seats. 

After  having  visited  a  village,  M.  de  Langle  gave  orders  that 
six  soldiers,  with  a  sergeant,  should  accompany  him:  the  others 
were  left  upon  the  beach,  under  the  command  of  M.  de  Pierrevert^ 
the  lieutenant;  to  them  was  committed  the  protection  of  the  ship's 
boats,  from  which  not  a  single  sailor  had  landed.  The  party  re- 
embarked  at  eleven  o'clock  in  very  good  order,  and  arrived  on 
board  about  noon,  where  M.  de  Clonard  had  received  a  visit  from 
a  chief,  of  whom  he  had  purchased  a  cloak,  and  a  helmet  adorned 
with  red  feathers;  he  had  also  purchased  a  hundred  hogs,  a  quan- 
tity of  potatoes  and  bananas,  plenty  of  stuffs,  mats,  and  various 
other  articles.  On  their  arrival  on  board,  the  two  frigates  dragged 
their  anchors;  it  blew  fresh  from  the  south-east,  and  they  were 
driving  down  upon  the  island  of  Morokinne,  which  was  however 
at  a  sufficient  distance  to  give  them  time  to  hoist  in  their  boats. 
La  Perouse  made  the  signal  for  weighing,  but  before  they  could 
purchase  the  anchor,  he  was  obliged  to  make  sail,  and  drag  it  till 
he  had  passed  Morokinne,  to  hinder  him  from  driving  past  the 
channel. 

A  fair  wind  accompanied  the  navigators  on  their  departure  from 
the*  Sandwich  Islands.  Whales  and  wild-geese  convinced  them 
that  they  were  approaching  land.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  23d 
they  descried  it ;  a  sudden  dispersion  of  the  fog  opened  to  them  the 
view  of  a  long  chain  of  mountains  covered  with  snow.  They  dis- 
tinguished Behring's  Mount  St.  Elias.  on  the  north-west  coast  of 
America.  Having  taken  in  as  much  wood  and  water  as  was  re- 
quired, the  navigators  esteemed  themselves  the  most  fortunate  of 
men,  in  having  arrived  at  such  a  distance  from  Europe  without 
having  a  sick  person  among  them,  or  any  one  afflicted  with  the 
scurvy;  but  a  lamentable  misfortune  now  awaited  them.  At  the 
entrance  of  this  harbor  perished  twenty  brave  seamen,  in  two 
boats,  by  the  surf.  On  the  30th  of  July,  at  four  in  the  afternoon, 
La  Perouse  got  under  way.  This  bay  or  harbor,  to  which  he  gave 
the  name  of  Port  des  Francais,  is  situated  in  58  deg.  37  min.  north- 
latitude,  and  139  deg.  50  min.  west  longitude.  In  different  ex- 
cursions, he  says,  he  found  the  high-water  mark  to  be  fifteen 
feet  above  the  surface  of  the  sea.  The  climate  of  this  coast  is 
infinitely  milder  than  that  of  Hudson's  Bay,  in  the  same  degree 
of  latitude.  Pines  were  seen  of  six  feet*  in  diameter,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty  feet  in  height.  Vegetation  is  vigorous  during 
three  or  four  months  of  the  year.  The  men  wear  different  small  or- 
naments, pendant  from  the  ears  and  nose,  scarify  their  arms  and 


188  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

breasts,  and  file  their  teeth  close  to  their  gums,  using,  for  the 
last  operation,  a  sand-stone,  formed  into  a  particular  shape. 
They  paint  the  face  and  body  with  soot,  ochre,  and  plumbago, 
mixed  with  train-oil,  making  themselves  most  horrid  figures. 
When  completely  dressed,  their  flowing  hair  is  powdered,  and 
plaited  with  the  down  of  sea-birds;  but,  perhaps,  only  the  chiefs 
of  certain  distinguished  families  are  thus  decorated.  Their  should- 
ers are  covered  with  a  skin,  and  on  the  head,  is  generally  worn  a 
little  straw-hat,  plaited  with  great  taste  and  ingenuity.  Some- 
times, indeed,  the  head  is  decorated  with  two  horned  bonnets  of 
eagles'  feathers.  Their  head-dresses  are  extremely  various,  the 
grand  object  in  view  being  only  to  render  themselves  terrible, 
that  they  may  keep  their  enemies  in  awe.  Some  Indians  have 
skirts  of  otters'  skins.  A  great  chief  wore  a  shirt  composed  of  a 
tanned  skin  of  the  elk,  bordered  by  a  fringe  of  beaks  of  birds, 
which,  when  dancing,  imitated  the  noise  of  a  bell;  a  common 
dress  among  the  savages  of  Canada,  and  other  nations  in  the 
eastern  parts  of  America.  The  passion  of  these  Indians  for 
gaming  is  astonishing,  and  they  pursue  it  with  great  avidity.  The 
sort  of  play  to  which  they  are  most  devoted,  is  a  certain  game  of 
chance;  out  of  thirty  pieces  of  wood,  each  distinctly  marked  like 
the  French  Dice,  they  hide  seven:  each  plays  in  succession  and 
he  who  guesses  nearest  to  the  whole  number  marked  upon  the 
seven  is  the  winner  of  the  stake,  which  is  usually  a  hatchet  or  a 
piece  of  iron. 

At  length,  after  a  very  long  run,  on  the  llth  of  September,  at 
three  in  the  afternoon,  the  navigators  got  sight  of  Fort  Montefey, 
and  two  three-masted  vessels  which  lay  in  the  road.  The  com- 
mander of  these  two  ships  having  been  informed,  by  the  Viceroy 
of  Mexico,  of  the  probable  arrival  of  the  two  French  frigates, 
sent  them  pilots  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Loretto,  the  only 
presidency  of  Old  California,  is  situated  on  the  east  coast  of  this 
peninsula  and  has  a  garrison  of  fifty-four  troopers,  who  furnish 
detachments  to  fifteen  missions;  the  duties  of  which  are  per- 
formed by  Dominican  friars.  About  four  thousand  Indians,  con- 
verted and  residing  in  these  fifteen  parishes,  are  the  sole  produce 
of  the  long  labors  of  the  different  religious  orders  which  have 
succeeded  each  other.  A  small  navy  was  established  by  the 
Spanish  Government  in  this  port,  under  the  orders  of  the  Viceroy 
of  Mexico,  consisting  of  four  corvettes  of  twelve  guns,  and  one 
goletta.  They  are  destined  to  supply  with  necessaries  the  pres- 
idencies of  North  California;  and  they  are  sometimes  despatched 
as  packets-boats  to  Manilla,  when,  the  orders  of  the  court  require 
the  utmost  expedition. 

The  company  were  received  with  all  possible  politeness  and  re- 
spect: the  president  of  the  missions,  in  his  sacerdotal  vestment, 
with  the  holy  water  in  his  hand,  waited  to  receive  them  at  the 
entrance  of  the  church,  whichi  was  splendidly  illuminated  as  on 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  189 

their  highest  festivals:  he  then  conducted  them  to  the  foot  of 
the  high  altar,  where  Te  Deuin  was  sung  in  thanksgivings  for 
their  arrival.  Before  they  entered  the  church  they  passed  a  range 
of  Indians:  the  parish  church,  though  covered  with  straw,  is  neat, 
and  decorated  with  paintings,  copied  from  Italian  originals.  The 
Indians,  as  well  as  the  missionaries,  rise  with  the  sun,  and  devote 
an  hour  to  pravers  and  mass,  during  which  time  a  species  of  boiled 
food  is  prepared  for  them:  it  consists  of  barley  meal,  the  grain  of 
which  has  been  roasted  previous  to  its  being  boiled.  It  is  cooked 
in  the  centre  of  the  square,  in  three  large  kettles.  This  repast 
is  called  atole  by  the  Indians,  who  consider  it  as  delicious;  it  is 
destitute  of  salt  and  butter,  and  must  consequently  be  insipid. 
The  women  have  little  more  to  attend  to  than  their  housewifery, 
their  children,  and  the  roasting  and  grinding  of  several  grains, 

;  the  latter  operation  is  long  and  laborious,  as  they  employ  no  other 
means  than  that  of  crushing  it  in  pieces  with  a  cylinder  upon  a 
stone. 

The  Indians  of  the  rancheries,  or  independent  villages,  are  ac- 
customed to  paint  their  bodies  red  and  black,  when  they  are  in 
mourning  -.  but  the  missionaries  have  prohibited  the  former,  though 
they  tolerate  the  latter,  these  people  being  singularly  attached  to 
their  friends.  The  ties  of  family  are  less  regarded  among  them 

!  than  those  of  friendship:  the  children  show  no  filial  respect  to  the 
father,  having  been  obliged  to  quit  his  cabin  as  soon  as  they  were 

!  able  to  procure  their  own  subsistence. 

A  Spanish  commissary  at  Monterey,  named  M.  Vincent  Vassa- 

J  dre  y  Vega,  brought  orders  to  the  governor  to  collect  all  the 
otter-skins  of  his  missions  and  presidencies,  government  having 
reserved  to  itself  the  exclusive  commerce  of  them;  and  M.  Fages 
assured  La  Perouse  that  he  could  annually  furnish  twenty  thousand 
of  them.  The  Spaniards  were  ignorant  of  the  importance  of  this 
valuable  peltry  till  the  publication  of  the  voyages  of  Captain 
Cook;  that  excellent  man  has  navigated  for  the  general  benefit 

\t  of  every  nation;  his  own  enjoys  only  the  glory  of  the  enterprise, 
and  that  of  having  given  hirn  birth. 

Xew  California,  though  extremely  fertile,  cannot  boast  of 
having  a  single  settler;  a  few  soldiers,  married  to  Indian  women, 
who  dwell  in  the  forts,  or  who  are  dispersed  among  the  different 
missions,  constituting  the  whole  Spanish  nation  in  this  district  of 

"America.  The  Franciscan  missionaries  are  principally  Europe- 
ans; they  have  a  convent  in  Mexico. 

On  the  evening  of  the  22d  every  thing  was  on  board,  and  leave 
had  been  taken  of  the  Governor  and  missionaries.  On  the 
morning  of  the  24th  they  sailed.  On  the  3d  of  November  the 
frigates  were  surrounded  with  noddies,  terns,  and  man-of-war 
birds;  and  on  the  4th  they  made  an  island  which  bore  west 
This  small  island  is  little  more  than  a  rock  of  about  iive  hundred 
toises  in  length.  La  Perouse  named  it  Isle  Decker.  About 


190  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

an  hour  past  one  in  the  morning  La  Peiouse  saw  breakers  at  two 
cables'  length  ahead  of  the  ship;  the  sea  being  so  smooth,  the 
sound  of  them  was- hardly  heard;  the  Astrolabe  perceived  them 
at  the  same  time,  though  at  a  greater  distance  than  the  Boussole; 
both  frigates  instantly  hauled,  with  their  heads  to  the  south-east 
La  Perouse  gave  orders  for  sounding;  they  had  nine  fathoms, 
rocky  bottom;  soon  after  ten  and  twelve  fathoms,  arid  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  got  no  ground  with  sixty  fathoms.  They  just  escaped 
the  most  imminent  danger  to  which  navigators  can  be  exposed. 

The  Island  of  Assumption,  to  which  the  Jesuits  have  attributed 
six  leagues  of  circumference,  from  the  angles  now  taken,  was  re- 
duced to  half,  and  the  highest  point  is  about  two  hundred  toises 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  A  more  horrid  place  cannot  be  con- 
ceived. It  was  a  perfect  cone,  as  black  as  a  coal,  and  very 
mortifying  to  behold,  after  having  enjoyed,  in  imagination,  the 
cocoa-nuts  and  turtles  expected  to  be  found  in  some  one  of  the 
Marianne  Islands.  Having  determined  the  position,  he  continued 
his  course  towards  China;  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1787,  found 
bottom  in  sixty  fathoms;  a  number  of  fishing-boats  surrounded 
him  the  next  day.  On  the  2d  of  January  our  navigators  made 
the  White  Rock.  In  the  evening  they  anchored  to  the  north- 
ward of  Ling-sing  Island,  and  the  following  day  in  Macao  Road. 
Macao,  situate  at  the  mouth  of  th|k,  Tigris,  is  capable  of  receiving 
a  sixty-four  gun-ship  into  its  road,  at  the  entrance  of,  the  Typa; 
and  in  its  port,  below  the  city,  ships  of  seven  hundred  tons  half 
laden. 

The  climate  of  the  road  of  Typa  is,  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
precarious;  most  of  the  crews  were  afflicted  with  colds,  accom- 
panied with  a  fever;  which  yielded  to  the  salutary  temperature  of 
the  island  of  Luconia,  when  they  approached  it  on  the  15th  of 
February.  Wanting  wood,  which  he  knew  was  dear  at  Manilla, 
La  Perouse  came  to  a  resolution  of  remaining  twenty-four  hours 
at  Marivella  to  procure  some,  and  early  the  next  morning  all  the 
carpenters  of  the  two  frigates  were  sent  on  shore  with  the  long 
boats;  the  rest  of  the  ship's  company,  with  the  yawl,  were  re- 
served for  a  fishing-party;  but  they  were  unsuccessful,  as  they 
found  nothing  but  rocks  and  very  shallow  water. 

On  the  28th  the  navigators  came  to  an  anchor  in  the  port  of 
Cavite,  in  three  fathoms,  at  two  cables'  length  from  the  town. 
Cavite,  situate  three  leagues  to  the  south-west  of  Manilla,  was 
formerly  a  place  of  importance.  Manilla  is  erected  on  -the  Bay 
which  also  bears  its  name,  and  lies  at  the  mouth  of  a  river,  being 
one  of  the  finest  situations  in  the  world;  all  the  necessaries  of  life 
may  be  procured  there  in  abundance,  and  on  reasonable  terms; 
but  the  cloths,  and  other  manufactures  of  Europe  are  extravagant- 
ly dear.  La  Perouse  confidently  asserts,  that  a  great  nation, 
without  any  other  colony  than  the  Philippines,  which  would  estab- 
lish a  proper  government  there,  might  view  all  the  European 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  191 

settlements  in  Africa  and  America  without  envy  or  regret.  These 
islands  contain  about  3,000,000  of  inhabitants,  and  that  of  Luco- 
nia  consists  of  about  a  third  of  them.  These  people  seem  not 
inferior  to  Europeans;  they  cultivate  the  land  with  skill,  and 
among  them  have  ingenious  goldsmiths,  carpenters,  joiners, 
masons,  blacksmiths,  &c.  La  Perouse  says  he  has  visited  them 
at  their  villages,  and  found  them  affable,  hospitable,  and  honest. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  according  to  the  French  reckoning,  and 
•the  10th  as  the  Manillese  reckon,  our  navigators  sailed  and  got 
to  the  northward  of  the  island  of  Luconia.  On  the  21st  they 
made  the  island  of  Formosa;  and  experienced,  in  the  channel 
which  divides  it  from  that  of  Luconia,  some  very  violent  currents. 
On  the  22d  they  set  Lamy  Island,  at  the  south-west  point  of 
Formosa,  about  three  leagues  distant.  The  tack  they  then  stood 
on  conveyed  them  upon  the  coast  of  Formosa,  near  the  entrance 
of  the  bay  of  Old  Fort  Zealand,  where  the  city  of  Tay  wan,  the 
capital  of  that  island  is  seated. 

The  whole  of  the  next  day  a  dead  calm  occurred,  in  mid-channeln 
between  the  Bashee  Islands,  and  those  of  Botol  Tabacoxima. 
It  is  probable  that  vessels  might  provide  themselves  in  this  island 
with  provision,  wood,  and  water.  La  Perouse  preserved  the 
name  of  Kumi  Island,  which  Father  Gambil  gives  it  in  his  chart. 
In  the  night  of  the  25th  our  navigators  passed  the  strait  of  Corea, 
sounding  very  frequently,  and  as  this  coast  appeared  more  eligible 
to  follow  than  that  of  Japan,  they  approached  within  two  leagues 
of  it,  and  shaped  a  course  parallel  to  its  direction.  On  the  27th 
they  made  the  signal  to  bear  up,  and  steer  east,  and  soon  perceiv- 
ed, in  the  north-north-east,  an  Island  not  laid  down  upon  any 
chart,  at  the  distance  of  about  twenty  leagues  from  the  coast  of 
Corea.  He  named  it  Isle  Dagelet,  from  the  name  of  the  astrono- 
mer who  first  discovered  it.  The  circumference  is  about  three 
leagues. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  La  Perouse  shaped  his  course  east  towards 
Japan,  and  on  the  2d  of  June  saw  two  Japanese  vessels,  one  of 
which  passed  within  hail  of  him.  It  had  a  crew  of  twenty  men, 
all  habited  in  blue  cassocks  resembling  those  worn  by  French 
priests.  This  vessel  was  about  one  hundred  tons  burden,  and 
had  a  single  high  mast  stepped  in  the  middle.  The  Astrolabe 
liailed  her  as  she  passed,  but  neither  the  question  nor  the  answer 
was  comprehended.  At  different  times  of  the  day  seven  Chinese 
vessels  of  a  smaller  construction,  were  seen,  which  were  better 
calculated  to  encounter  bad  weather. 

During  the  seventy-five  days,  since  our  navigators  sailed  from 
Manilla,  they  had  run  along  the  coasts  of  Quelpert  Island,  Corea, 
and  Japan;  but  as  these  countries  were  inhabited  by  people  in- 
hospitable to  strangers,  they  did  not  attempt  to  visit  them.  They 
were  extremely  impatient  to  reconnoitre  this  land,  and  it  was  the 
only  part  of  the  globe  which  had  escaped  the  activity  of  Captain 


192  MONSIEUR    DE    LA  PEROUSE. 

Cook.  The  geographers  who  had  drawn  the  strait  of  Tessoy, 
erroneously  determined  the  limits  of  Jesso,  of  the  Company's  land, 
and  of  Staten  Island;  it,  therefore,  became  necessary  to  termi- 
nate the  ancient  discussions  by  indisputable  facts.  The  latitude 
of  Baie  de  Ternai  was  the  same  as  that  of  Port  Acqueis,  though 
the  description  of  it  is  very  different.  The  plants  which  France 
produces,  carpeted  the  whole  of  this  soil.  Hoses,  lilies,  and  all 
European  meadow-flowers  were  beheld  at  every  step.  Pine- 
trees  embellished  the  tops  of  the  mountains;  and  oaks,  gradual- 
ly diminishing  in  strength  and  size  towards  the  sea,  adorned  the 
less  elevated  parts.  Traces  of  men  were  frequently  perceived  by 
the  havoc  they  had  made.  By  these,  and  many  other  corrobora- 
ting circumstances,  the  navigators  were  clearly,  of  opinion,  that 
the  Tartars  approach  the  borders  of  the  sea,  when  invited  thither 
by  the  season  for  fishing  and  hunting ;  that  they  assemble  for  these 
purposes  along  the  rivers,  and  that  the  mass  of  people  reside  in 
the  interior  of  the  country,  to  attend  to  the  multiplication  of  their 
flocks  and  herds.  M.  de  Langle,  with  several  other  officers  who 
had  a  passion  for  hunting,  endeavored  to  pursue  their  sport,  but 
without  success,  yet  they  imagined  that  by  silence,  perseverance, 
and  posting  themselves  in  ambush  in  the  passes  of  the  stags  and 
bears,  they  might  be  able  to  procure  some  of  them.  This  plan 
was  determined  on  for  the  next  day,  but,  with  all  their  address 
and  management  it  proved  abortive.  It  was  therefore  generally 
acknowledged  that  fishing  presented  the  greatest  prospect  of  suc- 
cess. Each  of  the  five  creeks  in  the  Baie  de  Ternai  afforded  a 
proper  place  for  hauling  the  seine,  and  was  rendered  more  con- 
venient by  a  rivulet,  near  which  they  established  their  kitchen. 
They  caught  plenty  of  trout,  salmon,  cod-fish,  harp-fish,  plaice, 
and  herrings. 

At  eight  in  the  morning  of  the  7th,  he  made  an  island  which 
seemed  of  great  extent;  he  supposed,  at  first,  that  this  was  Sega- 
lien  Island,  the  south  part  of  which  some  geographers  had  placed 
two  degrees  too  far  to  the  northward.  The  aspect  of  this  land  was 
extremely  different  from  that  of  Tartary;  nothing  was  to  be  seen 
but  barren  rocks,  the  cavities  of  which  retained  the  snow.  To 
the  highest  of  the  mountains  La  Perouse  gave  the  appellation  of 
Peak  Lamanon.  M.  de  Langle,  who  had  come  to  anchor,  came 
instantly  on  board  his  ship,  having  already  hoisted  out  his  long 
boat  and  small  boats.  He  submitted  to  La  Perouse  whether  it 
would  not  be  proper  to  land  before  night,  in  order  to  reconnoitre 
the  country,  and  gather  some  necessary  information  from  the 
inhabitants.  By  the  assistance  of  their  glasses,  they  perceived 
some  cabins,  and  two  of  the  islanders  hastening  towards  the 
woods. 

Our  navigators  were  successful  in  making  the  natives  compre- 
hend that  they  requested  a  description  of  their  country,  and  that 
of  the  Mantchous;  one  of  the  old  sages  rose  up,  and,  with  great 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  193 

perspicuity  pointed  out  the  most  essential  and  interesting  particu- 
lars with  the  end  of  his  staff!  His  sagacity  in  guessing  the  mean- 
ing of  the  questions  proposed  to  him  was  astonishing,  though,  in 
this  particular,  he  was  surpassed  by  another  islander  of  about 
thirty  years  of  age.  The  last-mentioned  native  informed  our  navi-~ 
gators  that  they  had  a  commercial  intercourse  with  the  people 
who  inhabit  the  banks  of  Segalien  river,  and  he  distinctly 
marked,  by  strokes  of  a  pencil,  the  number  of  days  it  required 
for  a  canc^  to  sail  up  the  river  to  the  respective  places  of  their 
general  traffic.  The  bay  in  which  they  lay  at  anchor  was  named 
Baie  de  Langle,  as  Captain  de  Langle  was  the  first  who  discovered 
it,  and  first  landed  on  its  shore.  They  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
day  in  visiting  the  country  and  its  inhabitants.  They  were  sur- 
prised to  find  among  a  people  composed  of  hunters  and  fishermen, 
who  were  strangers  to  the  cultivation  of  the  earth,  and  without 
flocks  or  herds,  such  gentle  manners,  and  such  a  superiority  of 
intellect.  The  attention  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Baie  de  Langle 
was  attracted  by  the  arts  and  manufactures  of  the  French,  they 
judiciously  examined  them,  and  debated  among  themselves  the 
manner  of  fabricating  the  several  articles.  They  were  not  un- 
acquainted with  the  weaver's  shuttle.  A  loom  of  their  construction 
was  carried  to  France,  by  which  it  appeared  that  their  methods  of 
making  linens  was  similar  to  that  of  the  Europeans;  but  the 
thread  of  it  is  formed  of  the  bark  of  the  willow-tree.  Though 
they  do  not  cultivate  the  soil,  they  convert  the  spontaneous  pro- 
duce of  it  to  the  most  useful  and  necessary  purposes. 

At  daybreak,  on  the  4th  of  July,  La  Perouse  made  the  signal 
for  getting  under  way;  early  on  the  19th,  he  saw  the  land  of  an 
island  from  north-east-by-north,  as  far  as  east-south-east,  but  so 
thick  a  fog  prevailed  that  none  of  the  points  could  be  particularly 
discovered.  The  bay,  which  is_the  best  in  which  he  had  an- 
chored since  his  departure  from  Manilla,  he  named  Baie'd  'Esta- 
ing.  M.  de  Langle,  who  first  landed  in  the  island,  found  the 
islanders  assembled  round  three  or  four  canoes,  laden  with  smoked 
fish:  he  was  there  informed  that  the  men  who  composed  the  crews 
of  the  canoes  were  Mantchous,  and  had  quitted  the  banks  of  the 
Segalien  river  to  become  purchasers  of  these  fish.  In  the  corner 
of  the  island,  within  a  kind  of  circus  planted  with  stakes,  each 
surmounted  with  the  head  of  a  bear,  the  bones  of  animals  lay  scat- 
tered. As  these  people  use  no  firearms,  but  engage  the  bears 
in  close  combat,  their  arrows  being  only  .capable  of  wounding 
them,  this  circus  might  probably  be  intended  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  certain  great  exploits.  Having  entertained  conjectures 
relative  to  the  proximity  of  the  Coast  of  Tartary,  La  Perouse 
at  length  discovered  that  his  conjectures  were  well-founded;  for 
when  the  horizon  became  a  little  more  extensive,  he  saw  it  per- 
fectly. In  the  evening  of  the  22d  he  came  to  anchor  in  thirty- 
seven  fathoms,  about  a  league  from  the  land.  He  was  then  abreast 

17 


194  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE, 


of  a  small  river,  to  the  northward  of  which  he  saw  ».  remarkabk 
peak;  its  base  is  on  the  shore,  and  its  summit  on  all  sides-preserves 
a  regular  form.  La  Perouse  bestowed  on  it  the  title  of  Peak  la 
Martiniere. 

On  the  28th,  in  the  evening,  our  navigators  were  at  the 
opening  of  a  bay  which  presented  a  safe  and  convenient  anchor- 
age. M.  de  Langle  reported  to  La  Perouse  that  there  was  ex- 
cellent shelter  behind  four  islands;  he  had  landed  at  a  village 
of  Tartars,  where  he  was  kindly  received,  and  where  he  discov- 
ered a  watering  place  abounding  with  the  most  limpid  element. 
From  M.  de  Langle 's  report,  La  Perouse  gave  orders  to  prepare 
for  anchoring  in  the  bottom  of  the  bay,  which  was  named  Baie 
de  Castris. 

In  this  bay  the  French  navigators  first  discovered  the  use  of  the 
circle  of  lead  or  bone,  which  these  people,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Segalien  Island,  wear  on  the  thumb  like  a  ring;  it  greatly  assists 
them  in  cutting  and  stripping  the  salmon  with  a  knife,  which  is 
always  hanging  to  their  girdle.  Their  village  was  built  upon  low 
marshy  land,  which  must  doubtless  be  uninhabitable  diifirtg  the 
winter;  but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  gulf,  another  village 
appeared  on  a  more  elevated  situation.  It  was  seated  at  the  en- 
trance of  a  wood,  and  contained  eight  cabins,  larger  and  better 
constructed  than  the  first.  Not  far  from  these  cabins,  they 
visited  three  yourts,  or  subterranean  houses.  They  were  suffi- 
ciently capacious  to  accommodate  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole 
eight  cabins  during  the  severity  of  the  inclement  season.  On 
the  borders  of  this  village  several  tombs  presented  themselves, 
which  were  larger  and  more  ingeniously  fabricated  than  the 
houses;  each  of  them  contained  three,  four,  or  five  biers,  deco- 
rated with  Chinese  stuffs,  some  pieces  of  which  were  brocade. 
Bows,  arrows,  and  the  other  most  esteemed  articles  of  these  people, 
were  suspended  in  the  interior  of  these  monuments,  the  wooden 
door  of  which  was  closed  by  a  bar,  supported  at  each  end  by  a 
prop. 

The  women  are  wrapped  in- a  large  robe  of  nankeen,  or  sal- 
mon's skin,  curiously  tanned,  descending  as  low  as  the  ankle- 
bone,  sometimes  embellished  with  a  border  of  fringe  manufactured 
of  copper,  arid  producing  sounds  like  those  of  little  bells.  Those 
salmon  which  furnish  a  covering  for  the  fair,  weigh  thirty  or 
forty  pounds,  and  are  never  caught  in  summer;  those  which  were 
taken  by  the  French  visiters  did  not  exceed  three  or  four  pounds 
in  weight;  but  that  disadvantage  was  fully  compensated  by  the 
extraordinary  number,  and  the  extreme  delicacy  of  their  flavor. 

On  the  Id  of  August,  La  Perouse  sailed  with  a  light  breeze. 
On  the  19th  Cape  Troun  was  perceived  to  the  southward,  and 
Cape  Uries  to  the  south-east-by-east;  its  proper  direction,  ac- 
cording to  the  Dutch  chart:  their  situation  could  not  possibly 
have  been  determined  with  more  precision  by  modern  navigators. 


MONSIEUR    DE     LA    PEROUSE.  195 

In  the  evening  of  the  6th,  they  made  the  entrance  of  Avatcha 
Ba\ ,  or  Saint  Peter  and  Saint  Paul.  The  light-house,  erected 
by  the  Russians  on  the  east  point  of  the  entrance,  was  not  kindled 
during  the  night;  as  an  excuse  for  which  the  governor  declared 
the  next  day,  that  all  their  efforts  to  keep  it  burn  had  been  in- 
effectual; the  wind  had  constantly  extinguished  the  flame,  which 
was  only  sheltered  by  four  planks  of  wood  very  inditferently 
cemented. 

The  government  of  Kamtschatka  had  been  materially  changed 
since  the  departure  of  the  English,  and  was  now  only  a  dependency 
of  that  of  Ochotsk.  These  particulars  were  communicated  to  our 
navigators  by  lieutenant  Kaborof,  governor  of  the  harbor  of  Saint 
Peter  and  Saint  Paul,  having  a  sergeant  and  forty  soldiers  under 
his  command.  M.  de  Lessops,  who  acted  as  interpreter,  and  who 
perfectly  understood  the  Russian  language,  wrote  a  letter,  in  La 
Perouse's  name,  to  the  governor  of  Ochotsk,  to  whom  La  Pe rouse 
also  wrote  in  French  himself.  He  told  him  that  the  narrative  of 
Cook's  last  voyage  had  spread  abroad  the  fame  of  the  hospitality 
of  the  Kamtschadale  government;  and  he  flattered  himself  that 
he  should  be  as  favorably  received  as  the  English  navigators,  as 
his  voyage,  like  theirs,  was  intended  for  the  general  benefit  of  all 
maritime  nations. 

The  Kamtschadales  are  of  an  imitative  genius,  and  fond  of 
adopting  the  customs  of  their  conquerors.  They  have  already 
abandoned  the  yourts,  in  which  they  were  formerly  accustomed 
to  burrow  like  badgers,  breathing  foul  air  during  the  whole  of 
the  winter.  The  most  opulent  among  them  now  build  isbas,  or 
wooden  houses,  like  those  of  the^Russians:  they  are  divided  into 
three  small  rooms,  and  are  conveniently  warmed  by  a  brick-stove. 
The  inferior  people  pass  their  winters  and  summers  in  balagans, 
resembling  wooden  pigeon-houses,  covered  with  thatch,  and  placed 
upon  the  tops  of  posts  twelve  or  thirteen  feet  high,  to  which  the 
women,  as  well  as  men,  find  a  ladder  necessary  for  their  ascen- 
sion. But  these  latter  buildings  will  probably  soon  disappear: 
for  the  Kamtschadales  imitate  the  manners  and  dresses  of  the 
Russians.  It  is  curious  to  see  in  their  little  cottages,  a  quantity 
of  cash  in  circulation;  and  it  may  be  considered  as  a  still  greater 
curiosity,  because  the  practice  exists  among  so  small  a  number  of 
inhabitants.  Their  consumption  of  the  commodities  of  Russia 
and  ChiWa  are  so  few,  that  the  balance  of  trade  is  entirely  in  their 
favor,  in  consequence  of  which  it  is  necessary  to  pay  them  the 
difference  in  roubles.  The  Kamtschadales,  says  La  Perouse, 
appeared  to  me  to  be  the  same  people  as  those  of  the  Bay  of  Cas- 
tries, on  the  coast  of  Tartary;  they  are  equally  remarkable  for 
their  mildness  and  their  probity,  and  their  persons  are  not  very- 
dissimilar. 

The  approach  of  winter  now  warned  our  navigators  to  depart; 
the  ground,  which,  on  their  arrival  on  the  7th  of  September,  wag 


196  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

adorned  with  the  most  beautiful  verdure,  was  as  yellow  and  parched 
up  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  as  in  the  environs  of  Paris  at 
the  conclusion  of  December.  La  Perouse  therefore  gave  prepar- 
atory orders  for  their  departure,  and,  on  the  29th,  got  under  way. 
M.  KaslofF  came  to  take  a  final  leave  of  him,  and  dined  on  board. 
He  accompanied  him  on  shore,  with  M.  de  Langle,  and  several 
officers,  and  was  liberally  entertained  with  a  good  supper,  and 
a  ball. 

Induced  by  a  western  gale,  La  Perouse  attempted  to  reach  the 
parallel  of  Bougainville's  Navigator's  Islands,  a  discovery  due  to 
the  French,  where  fresh  provision  might  probably  be  procured. 
On  the  6th  of  December,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  he  saw  the 
most  easterly  island  of  that  Archipelago,  and  stood  on  and  off  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  evening  and  night.  Meaning  to  anchor  if  he 
met  with  a  proper  place,  La  Perouse  passed  through  the  channel 
between  the  great  and  the  little  islands  that  Bougainville  left  to 
the  south;  though  hardly  a  league  wide,  it  appeared  perfectly 
free  from  danger.  He  saw  no  canoes  till  he  was  in  the  channel, 
yet  he  beheld  several  habitations  on  the  windward  side  of  the 
island,  and  a  group  of  Indians  sitting  under  the  shade  of  cocoa-nut 
trees,  who  seemed  delighted  with  the  prospect  afforded  by  the 
frigates. 

At  break  of  day  they  were  surprised  not  to  see  land  to  leeward; 
nor  was  it  to  be  discovered  till  six  o'clock  next  morning.  Charm- 
ed with  the  beautiful  dawn  of  the  following  morning,  La  Perouse 
resolved  to  reconnoitre  the  country,  take  a  view  of  the  inhabitants 
at  their  own  homes,  fill  water,  and  immediately  get  underway; 
prudence  warning  him  against  passing  a  second  night  at  that 
anchorage,  which  M.  de  Langle  also  thought  too  dangerous  for 
a  longer  stay.  It  was  therefore  agreed  on  to  sail  in  the  afternoon, 
after  appropriating  the  morning  in  exchanging  baubles  for  hogs 
and  fruit.  At  the  dawn  of  day  the  islanders  had  surrounded  the 
two  frigates,  with  two  hundred  different  canoes  laden  with  provi- 
sion, which  they  would  only  exchange  for  beads,  axes,  and  cloth; 
other  articles  of  traffic,  were  treated  by  them  with  contempt. 
While  a  part  of  the  crew  was  occupied  in  keeping  them  in  order, 
and  dealing,  the  rest  were  despatching  empty  casks  on  shore  to 
be  replenished  with  water.  Two  boats  of  the  Boussole,  armed, 
and  commanded  by  Messrs  de  Clonard  and  Colinet,  and  those  of 
the  Astrolabe,  commanded  by  Messrs,  de  Monti  and  Bfflegarde, 
set  off  with  that  view  at  five  in  the  morning,  for  a  bay  at  the  dis- 
tance of  about  a  league.  La  Perouse  followed  close  after  Messrs 
Clonard  and  Monti,  in  his  pinnace,  and  landed  when  they  did. 
It  unfortunately  happenedthat  M.  de  Langle  had  formed  a  resolu- 
tion to  make  an  excursion  in  his  jolly-boat  to  another  creek,  at  the 
distance  of  about  a  league  from  their  watering-place;  from  this 
excursion  a  dire  misfortune  ensued.  The  creek,  towards  which 
the  'long-boats  steered,  was  large  and  commodious:  these,  and 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  197 

the  other  boats,  remained  afloat  at  low  water,  within  half  a  pistol- 
sliot  of  the  beach,  and  excellent  water  was  easily  procured.  Great 
order  was  observed  by  Messrs,  de  Clonard  and  de  Monti.  A  line 
of  soldiers  was  posted  between  the  beach  and  the  natives,  who 
amounted  to  about  two  hundred,  including  many  women  and 
children.  They  were  prevailed  on  to  sit  down  under  cocoa-trees, 
at  a  little  distance  from  the  boats;  each  of  them  had  fowls,  hogs, 
pig  ons,  or  fruit,  and  all.  of  them  were  anxious  to  dispose  of  their 
articles  without  delay,  which  created  some  confusion. 

While  matters  were  thus  passing  with  perfect  tranquillity,  and 
the  casks  expeditiously  filling  with  water,  La  Perouse  ventured 
to  visit  a  charming  village,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  neighboring 
wood,  the  trees  of  which  were  loaded  with  delicious  fruit.  The 
houses  formed  a  circle  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  toises  in 
diameter,  leaving  an  interior  open  space,  beautifully  verdant,  and 
shaded  with  trees,  which  rendered  the  air  delightfully  cool  and 
refreshing.  Women,  children,  and  aged  men  attended  him,  and 
earnestly  importuned  him  to  enter  their  houses;  they  even  spread 
their  finest  mats  upon  the  floor,  decorated  with  chosen  pebbles, 
and  raised  a  convenient  distance  from  the  ground,  to  prevent 
offensive  humidity.  La  Perouse  condescended  to  enter  one  of 
the  handsomest  of  these  huts,  which  was  probably  inhabited  by  a 
chief,  and  was  astonished  to  behold  a  large  cabinet  of  lattice-work, 
in  which  as  much  taste  and  elegance  were  displayed  as  if  it  had 
been  produced  in  the  environs  of  Paris.  This  enchanting  coun- 
try, blessed  with  a  fruitful  soil  without  culture,  and  enjoying  a 
climate  which  renders  clothing  unnecessary,  holds  out  to  these 
fortunate  people  an  abundance  of  the  most  estimable  food.  The 
trees  invite  the  natives  to  partake  of  the  bread-fruit,  the  banana, 
the  cocoa-nut,  and  the  orange;  while  the  swine,  fowls,  and  dogs, 
which  partake  of  the  surplus  of  these  fruits,  afford  them  a  rich 
variety  of  viands.  The  inhabitants  of  this  enviable  spot  were  so 
rich,  and  entirely  free  from  wants,  that  they  looked  with  disdain 
on  the  cloth  and  iron  tendered  by  the  French  visiters,  and  only 
deigned  to  become  customers  for  beads.  Abounding  in  real  bless- 
ings, they  languished  only  for  superfluities. 

The  boats  of  the  Boussole  now  arrived  loaded  with  water,  and 
La  Perouse  made  every  preparation  to  get  under  way.  M.  de 
Langle  at  the  same  instant  returned  from  his  excursion,  and 
mentioned  his  having  landed  in  a  noble  harbor  for  boats,  at  the 
foot  of  a  delightful  village,  and  near  a  cascade  of  transparent 
water.  He  spoke  of  this  watering-place  as  infinitely  more  com- 
modious than  any  other,  and  begged  La  Perouse  to  permit  him  to 
take  the  lead  of  the  first  party,  assuring  him  that  in  three  hours  he 
would  return  on  board  with  all  the  boats  full  of  water.  Though 
La  Perouse,  from  the  appearance  of  things  at  this  time,  had  no 
great  apprehensions  of  danger,  he  was  averse  to  sending  boats  on 
shore  without  the  greatest  necessity,  especially  among  an  immense 

17* 


198  MONSIEUR  DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

number  of  people,  unsupported  and  unperceived  by  the   ship--. 
The  boats  put  off  from  the  Astrolabe  at  half  past  twelve 
rived  at  the  watering-place  soon  after  one;    wher 
astonishment,  M.  de  Langle,  and  his  officers,  in         i 
a  large   commodious  bay,  saw  only  a  creek  full  of 
which  there  was  no  other  passage  than  a  winding  chi  ,/nt 

twenty-five  feet  wide.  When  within,  they  had  no  m  j  man  five 
feet  water;  the  long-boats  grounded,  and  the  barges  must  have 
been  in  the  same  situation  had  they  not  been  hauled  to  the  en- 
trance of  the  channel  at  a  great  distance  from  the  beach.  M.  de 
Langle  was  now  convinced  that  he  had  examined  the  bay  at  high- 
water  only,  not  supposing  that  the  tide  at  those  islands  rose  five  or 
six  feet.  Struck  with  amazement,  he  instantly  resolved  to  quit 
the  creek,  and  repair  to  that  where  they  had  before  filled  water; 
hut  the  air  of  tranquillity  and  apparent  good  humor  of  the  crowd 
of  Indians,  bringing  with  them  an  immense  quantity  of  fruit  and 
hogs,  chased  his, first  prudent  idea  from  his  recollection. 

He  landed  the  casks  on  shore  from  the  four  boats  without  in- 
terruption, while  his  soldiers  preserved  excellent  order  on  the 
beach,  forming  themselves  in  two  lines,  the  more  effectually  to 
answer  their  purpose.  Instead  of  about  two  hundred  natives,  in- 
cluding women  and  children,  which  M.  de  Langle  found  there  at 
about  half  after  one,  they  were,  at  three  o'clock,  increased  to  the 
alarming  number  of  one  thousand  and  two  hundred.  M.  de  Lan- 
gle's  situation  became'every  instant  more  embarrassing;  he  found 
means,  however,  to  ship  his  water,  but  the  bay  was  almost  dry, 
and  he  had  not  any  hopes  of  getting  off  the  long-boats  till  four  in 
the  afternoon.  He  and  his  detachment,  however,  stepped  into 
them,  and  took  post  in  the  bow  with  his  musket  and  musketeers, 
forbidding  any  one  to  fire  without  his  command;  which  he  knew 
would  speedily  be  found  necessary.  Stones  were  now  violently 
thrown  by  the  Indians,  who  were  up  to  their  knees  in  water,  and 
surrounded  the  long-boats,  at  the  distance  of  about  six  feet; 
the  soldiers,  who  were  embarked,  making  feeble  efforts  to  keep 
them  off. 

M.  de  Langle,  still  hoping  to  check  hostilities,  without  effusion 
of  blood,  gave  no  orders,  all  this  time,  for  firing  a  volley  of  mus- 
ketry and  swivels;  but  shortly  after,  a  shower  of  stones,  thrown 
with  incredible  force,  struck  almost  every  one  in  the  long-boat. 
M.  de  Langle  had  only  fired  two  shot,  when  he  was  knocked 
overboard,  and  massacred  with  clubs  and  stones  by  about  two 
hundred  Indians.  The  long-boat  of  the  Boussole,  commanded  by 
M.  de  Boutin,  was  aground  near  the  Astrolabe,  leaving  between 
them  a  channel  unoccupied  by  the  Indians.  Many  saved  them- 
selves by  swimming,  who  fortunately  got  on  board  the  barges, 
which  keeping  afloat,  forty-nine  persons  were  saved  out  of  the 
sixty-one,  of  which  the  party  consisted.  M.  Boutin  was  knocked 
down  by  a  stone,  but  fortunately  fell  between  the  two  long-boats, 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROTJSE.  199 

on  board  of  which  not  a  man  remained  in  the  space  of  about  five 
minutes.  Those  who  preserved  their  lives  by  swimming  to  the 
two  barges,  received  several  wounds;  but  those  who  unhappily  fell 
on  the  other  side  were  instantly  despatched  by  the  clubs  of  the 
remorseless  Indians. 

The  crews  of  the  barges,  who  had  killed  many  of  the  islanders 
with  their  muskets,  now  began  to  make  more  room  by  throwing 
their  water-casks  overboard.  They  had  also  nearly  exhausted 
their  ammunition,  and  their  retreat  was  rendered  difficult,  a 
number  of  wounded  persons  lying  stretched  out  upon  the  thwarts, 
and  impeding  the  working  of  the  oars.  To  the  prudence  of  M 
Vaujaus,  and  the  discipline  kept  up  by  M.  Mouton,  who  comman- 
ded the  Boussole's  barge,  the  public  are  indebted  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  forty-nine  persons  of  both  crews  who  escaped.  M. 
Boutin  had  received  five  wounds  in  the  head,  and  one  in  the 
breast,  and  was  kept  above  water  by  the  cockswain  of  the  long- 
boat, who  had  himself  received  a  severe  wound.  M.  Colinet  was 
discovered  in  a  state  of  insensibility  upon  the  grapnel-rope  of  the 
barge,  with  two  wounds  on  the  head,  an  arm  fractured,  and  a 
finger  broken.  M.  Lavaux,  surgeon  of  the  Astrolabe,  was  obli- 
ged to  suffer  the  operation  of  the  trepan.  M.  de  Larnanon,  and 
M.  de  Langle,  were  cruelly  massacred  with  Talio,  master  at  arms 
of  the  B-Hissole,  and  nine  other  persons  belonging  to  the  two 
crews.  M.  le  Gobien,  who  commanded  the  Astrolabe's  long-boat, 
did  riot  desert  his  post  till  he  was  left  alone;  when,  having  exhaust- 
ed his  ammunition,  he  leaped  into  the  channel,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing his  wounds,  preserved  himself  on  board  one  of  the  barges. 
A  little  ammunition  was  aftersvajds  found,  and  completely  ex- 
hausted on  the  infuriated  crowd;  arid  the  boats  at  length  extricated 
themselves  from  their  lamentable  situation. 

At  five  o"'clock  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Boussole  were 
informed  of  this  disastrous  event;  they  were  at  that  moment  sur- 
rounded with  about  one  hundred  canoes,  in  which  the  natives 

,  were  disposing  of  their  provisions  with  security,  and  perfectly 
innocent  of  the  catastrophe  which  had  happened.  But  they  were 
the  countrvmen,  the  brothers,  the  children  of  the  infernal  as.-as- 
sins,  the  thoughts  of  which  so  transported  La  Peroijse  with  rage, 
that  he  could  with  difficulty  confine  himself  to  the  limits  of  mode- 
ration, or  hinder  the  crew  from  punishing  them  with  death. 

On   the  14th  of  December,  La  Perouse  stood  for  the  Island  of 

'Oyolava,  which  had  been  observed  before  they  had  arrived  at  the 
anchorage  which  proved  so  fatal.  This  island  is  separated  from 
that  of  Maouna,  or  of  the  Massacre,  by  a  wide  channel,  and  vies 
with  Otaheite  in  beauty,  extent,  fertility,  and  population.  At 
the  distance  of  about  three  leagues  from  the  north-east  point,  he 
was  surrounded  by  canoes,  laden  with  bread-fruit,  bananas,  cocoa- 

•nuts,  sugar-canes,  pigeons,  and  a  few  hogs.     The  inhabitants  of 

!this  island  resemble  those  of  the  island  of  Maouna,  whose  treachery 


200  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE. 

had  been  so  fatally  experienced.  Some  exchanges  were  conduct- 
ed with  these  islanders  with  more  tranquillity  and  honesty  than  at 
the  island  of  Maouna,  as  the  smallest  act  of  injustice  received 
immediate  chastisement. 

On  the  17th  they  approached  the  island  of  Pola,  but  not  a  single 
canoe  came  off;  perhaps  the  natives  had  been  intimidated  by 
hearing  of  the  event  which  had  taken  place  at  Maouna.  Pola  is 
a  smaller  island  than  that  of  Oyolava,  but  equally  beautiful,  and 
is  only  separated  from  it  by  a  channel  four  leagues  across.  The 
natives  of  Maouna  informed  our  visiters,  that  the  Navigator's 
Islands  are  ten  in  number,  viz.  Opoun,  the  most  easterly,  Leone, 
Fanfoue,  Maouna,  Oyolava,  Calinasse,  Pola  Skika,  Ossarno,  and 
Ouera.  These  islands  form  one  of  the  finest  archipelagoes  of  the 
South  Sea,  and  are  as  interesting  with  respect  to  arts,  productions, 
and  population,  as  the  Society  and  Friendly  Islands,  which  the 
English  navigators  have  so  satisfactorily  described.  In  favor  of 
their  moral  characters,  little  remains  to  be  noticed;  gratitude  can- 
not find  a  residence  in  their  ferocious  minds;  nothing  but  fear  can 
restrain  them  from  outrageous  and  inhuman  actions.  The  huts 
of  these  islanders  are  elegantly  formed:  though  they  disdain  the. 
fabrications  of  iron,  they  finish  their  work  with  wonderful  neatness, 
with  tools  formed  of  a  species  of  basaltes  in  the  form  of  an  adze. 
For  a  few  glass-b^ads,  they  bartered  lar^e  three-legged  dishes 
of  wood,  so  well-polished  as  to  have  the  appearance  of  being 
highly  varnished.  They  keep  up  a  wretched  kind  of  police;  a 
few,  who  had  the  appearance  of  chiefs,  chastised  the  refractory 
with  their  sticks,  but  their  assumed  power  seemed  generally  dis- 
regarded; any  regulations  which  they  attempted  to  enforce  and  to 
establish,  were  transgressed  almost  as  soon  as  they  were  promul- 
gated. Never  were  sovereigns  so  negligently  obeyed,  never  were 
orders  enforced  with  such  feeble  shadows  of  authority. 

Imagination  cannot  figure  to  itself  more  agreeable  situations 
than  those  of  their  villages.  All  the  houses  are  built  under  fruit- 
trees,  which  render  them  delightfully  cool;  they  are  seated  on  the 
borders  of  streams,  leading  down  from  the  mountains.  Though 
the  principal  object  in  their  architecture  is  to  protect  them  from 
offensive  heat,  the  islanders  never  abandon  the  idea  of  elegance. 
Their  houses  are  sufficiently  spacious  to  accommodate  several 
families;  and  they  are  furnished  with  blinds,  which  are  drawn  up 
to  the  windward  to  prevent  the  intrusion  of  the  potent  rays  of  the 
sun.  The  natives  repose  upon  fine  comfortable  mats,  which  are 
cautiously  preserved  from  all  humidity.  Nothing  elm  be  said,  by 
our  travellers,  of  the  religious  rites  of  these  natives,  as  no  morai 
was  perceived  belonging  to  them.  The  islands  are  fertile,  and 
their  population  is  supposed  to  be  considerable.  Opun,  Leone, 
and  Fanfoue,  are  small;  but  Maoune,  Oyolava,  and  Pola,  may  be 
classed  among  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  in  the  South  Sea. 
Cocoa  island  is  lofty,  and  formed  like  a  sugar-loaf;  it  is  nearly  * 


MONSIEUR    DE    LA    PEROUSE.  201 

mile  in  diameter,  covered  with  trees,  and  is  separated  from  Trait- 
ors' Island  by  a  channel  about  a  league  wide.-  At  eight  in  the 
morning  La  Perouse  brought  too,  to  the  west-south-west,  at  two 
miles  from  a  sandy  bay  in  the  western  part  of  the  Great  Island  of 
Traitors,  where  he  expected  to  find  an  anchorage  sheltered  from 
easterly  winds.  About  twenty  canoes  instantly  quitted  the  shore 
and  approached  the  frigates  in  order  to  make  exchanges;  several 
of  them  were  loaded  with  excellent  cocoa-nuts,  with  a  few  yams 
and  bananas;  one  of  them  brought  a  hog,  and  three  or  four  fowls. 
It  evidently  appeared  that  these  Indians  had  before  some  know- 
ledge of  Europeans,  as  they  came  near  without  fear,  traded  with 
honesty,  and  never  refused  to  part  with  their  fruit  before  they  were 
paid  for  it.  They  spoke,  however,  the  same  language,  and  the 
same  ferocity  appeared  in  their  countenances;  their  manner  of 
tattooing,  and  the  form  of  their  canoes  were  the  same,  but  they 
had  not,  like  them,  two  joints  cut  off  from  the  little  finger  of  the 
left  hand;  two  individuals  had,  however,  suffered  that  operation. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  Vavao  was  perceived,  an  island 
which  Captain  Cook  had  never  visited,  but  was  no  stranger  to  its 
existence,  as  one  of  the  archipelago  of  the  Friendly  Islands;  it  is 
nearly  equal  in  extent  to  that  of  Tongataboo,  and  is  particularly 
fortunate  in  having  no  deficiency  of  fresh  water.  The  two  small 
islands  of  Hoongatonga  are  no  more  than  two  large  uninhabitable 
rocks,  which  are  high  enough  to  be  seen  at  the  distance  of  fifteen 
leagues.  Their  position  is  ten  leagues  north  of  Tongataboo;  but 
that  island  being  low,  it  can  hardly  be  seen  at  half  that  distance 
On  the  31st  of  December,  at  six  in  the  morning,  an  appearance 
like  the  tops  of  trees,  which  seemed  to  grow  in  the  water,  proved 
the  harbinger  of  Van  Dieman's  point.  The  wind  being  northerly, 
La  Perouse  steered  for  the  south  coast  of  the  island,  which  may, 
without  danger,  be  approached  within  three  musket-shots.  Not 
the  semblance  of  a  hill  is  to  be  seen;  a  calm  sea  cannot  present 
a  more  level  surface  to  the  eye.  The  huts  of  the  natives  were 
.scattered  irregularly  over  the  fields,  and  not  socially  collected 
into  a  conversable  neighborhood.  Seven  or  eight  canoes  were 
launched  from  these  habitations,  and  directed  their  course  towards 
the  vessels;  but  these  islanders  were  awkward  seamen,  and  did 
not  venture  to  come  near,  though  the  water  was  smooth,  and  no 
obstacle  impeded  their  passage.  At  the  distance  of  about  eight 
or  ten  feet,  they  leaped  overboard  and  swam  near  the  frigates, 
holding  in  each  hand  a  quantity  of  cocoa-nuts,  which  they  were 
glad  to  exchange  for  pieces  of  iron,  nails,  and  hatchets;  from  the 
honesty  of  their  dealings  a  friendly  intercourse  ensued  between 
the  islanders  and  the  navigators,  and  they  ventured  to  come  on 
board. 

Norfolk  Island,  off  the  coast  of  New  South  Wales,  which  they 
saw  on  the  13th  of  January,  is  very  steep,  but  does  not  exceed 
eighty  toises  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  is  covered  with  pines, 


202  MONSIEUR    DE    LA    FEROUSE. 

which  appear  to  be  of  the  same  species  as  those  of  New  Caledo- 
nia, or  New  Zealand.  Captain  Cook  having  declared  that  he  saw 
many  cabbage-trees  in  this  island,  heightened  the  desire  of  the  nav-  > 
igators  to  land  on  it.  Perhaps  the  palm  which  produces  these 
cabbages,  is  very  small,  for  not  a  single  tree  of  that  species  could 
be  discovered.  Orl  the  26th,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  La  Perouse 
let  go  the  anchor  at  a  mile  from  the  north  coast  of  Botany  Bay,  in» 
seven  fathoms  water.  An  English  lieutenant,  and  a  midshipman, 
were  sent  on  board  his  ship  by  Captain  Hunter,  commander  of 
the  Sinus.  They  offered  him,  in  Captain  Hunter's  name,  all  the 
services  in  his  power;  but  circumstances  would  not  permit  him  to 
supply  them  with  provision,  ammunition,  or  sails.  An  officer  was 
despatched  from  the  French  to  the  English  Captain,  returning 
thanks^  and  adding,  that  his  wants  extended  only  to  wood  and 
water,  of  which  he  should  find  plenty  in  the  bay.  The  journal  of 
La  Perouse  proceeds  no  further.  La  Perouse,  according  to  his 
last  letters  from  Botany  Bay,  was  to  return  to  the  Isle  of  France 
in  17S8. 

They  left  Botany  bay  in  March,  and,  in  a  letter  which  the 
commodore  wrote  February  7,  he  stated  his  intention  to  continue 
his  researches  till  December,  when  he  expected,  after  visiting  the 
Friendly  islands,  to  arrive  at  the  Isle  of  France.  This  was  the 
latest  intelligence  received  of  the  fate  of  the  expedition;  and  INI. 
d'  Entrecasteaux,  who  was  despatched  by  the  French  government, 
in  1791,  in  search  of  La  Perouse,  was  unable  to  trace  the  course 
he  had  taken,  or  gain  any  clew  to  the  catastrophe  which  had  be- 
fallen him  and  his  companions. 

In  1825,  the  attention  of  the  public  was  excited  towards  this 
mysterious  affair,  by  a  notice  published  by  the  French  minister 
of  the  marine,  purporting  that  an  Amerian  captain  had  declared 
that  he  had  seen,  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  natives  of  an  island 
in  the  tract  between  Louisiade  and  New  Caledonia,  a  cross  of  the 
order  of  St.  Louis,  and  some  medals,  which  appeared  to  have  been 
procured  from  the  shipwreck  of  La  Perouse.  In  consequence  of 
this  information,  the  commander  of  a  vessel  which  sailed  from 
Toulon,  in  April,  1826,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  received  orders 
to  make  researches  in  the  quarter  specified,  in  order  to  restore 
to  their  country  any  of  the  shipwrecked  crew  who  might  yet  re- 
main in  existence.  Other  intelligence,  relative  to  the  wreck  of 
two  large  vessels,  on  two  different  islands  of  the  New  Hehrides, 
was  obtained  by  captain  Dillon,  the  commander  of  an  English 
vessel  atTucopia,  in  his  passage  from  Valparaiso  to  Pondicherry, 
in  May,  1826,  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  sent  back  to  as- 
certain the  truth  of  the  matter.  The  facts  discovered  by  him  on 
this  mission,  were,  that  the  two  ships  struck  on  a  reef  at  Mallicolo, 
11°  4'  S.  latitude,  169°  20'  E.  longitude;  one  of  them  immediately 
went  down,  and  all  on  board  perished;  some  of  the  crew  of  the 
other  escaped,  part  of  whom  were  murdered  by  the  savages;  the 


MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS.  203 

remainder  built  a  small  vessel,  and  set  sail  from  MaJJ.'colo;  but 
what  became  of  them  is  not  known.  It  is  not,  indeed,  certain 
that  these  were  the  vessels  of  La  Perouse. 


MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS. 


BY    CAPTAIN    HALL. 

During  the  long  winters  of  our  slothful  discontent  at  Bermuda, 
caused  by  the  peace  of  Amiens,  the  grand  resource,  both  of  the 
idle  and  the  busy,  amongst  all  classes  of  the  Leander's  officers, 
was  shooting8 — that  never-ending,  still-beginning  amusemeni, 
which  Englishmen  carry  to  the  remotest  corner  of  the  habitable 
globe — popping  away  in  all  countries,  thinking  only  of  game,  and 
often  but  too  reckless  of  the  prejudices,  or  fear  of  the  natives.  This 
propensity  is  indulged  even  in  those  uninhabited  regions  of  the 
earth  which  are  visited  only  once  in  an  age;  and  if  Captain  Parry 
had  reached  the  pole,  he  would  unquestionably  have  had  a  shot 
at  the  axis  of  the  earth! 

In  the  meantime,  the  officers  and  young  gentlemen  of  the  flag- 
ship at  Bermuda  in  the  beginning  of  1803,  I  suppose  to  keep  their 
hands  in  for  the  war  which  they  saw  brewing,  and  prayed  hourly 
for,  were  constantly  blazing-away  amongst  the  cedar  groves  and 
orange  plantations  of  those  fairy  islands,  which  appeared  to  be 
more  and  more  beautiful  after  every  such  excursion.  The  mid- 
shipmen were  generally  obliged  to  content  themselves  with  knock- 
ing down  the  blue  and  red  birds  with  the  ship's  pistols,  charged 
with  His  Majesty's  gunpowder,  and,  for  want  of  small  shot,  with 
slugs  formed  by  cutting  up  His  Majesty's  musket-bullets.  The 
officers  aimed  at  higher  ^ame,  and  were,  of  course,  better  provid- 
ed with  guns  and  ammunition.  Several  of  these  gentlemen  had 
brought  from  England  some  fine  dogs — high  bred  pointers;  while 
the  middies,  also,  not  to  be  outdone,  must  needs  have  a  dog  of 
their  own:  they  recked  very  little  of  what  breed;  but  some  sort  of 
animal  they  said  they  must  have. 

I  forget  how  we  procured  the  strange-looking  animal  whose 
services  we  contrived  to  engage;  but  having  once  obtained  him, 
we  were  not  slow  in  giving  him  our  best  affections.  It  is  true  he 
was  as  ugly  as  anything  could  possibly  be.  His  color  was  a  dirty 
reddish  yellow;  and  while  a  part  of  his  hair  twisted  itself  up  in 
curls,  a  part  hung  down  quite  straight,  almost  to  the  ground.  He 
was  utterly  useless  for  all  the  purposes  of  real  sport,  but  quite 
good  enough  to  furnish  the  mids  with  plenty  of  fun  when  they  went 
on  shore — in  chasing  pigs,  barking  at  old  white  headed  negresses, 


204  MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS. 

and  other  amusements  suited  to  the  exalted  taste  and  habits  of  the 
rising  generation  of  officers. 

People  will  differ  as  to  the  merits  of  dogs;  but  we  had  no  doubts 
as  to  the  great  superiority  of  ours  over  all  others  on  board,  though 
the  name  we  gave  him  certainly  implied  no  such  confidence  on 
rur  part.  After  a  full  deliberation,  it  was  decided  to  call  him 
Shakings.  JVow  it  must  be  explained  that  shakings  is  a  name 
given  to  small  fragments  of  rope  yarns,  odds  and  ends  of  cordage, 
bits  of  oakum,  old  lanyards, — in  short  to  any  kind  of  refuse  arising 
rut  of  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  ropes.  This  odd  name  was  per- 
haps bestowed  on  our  beautiful  favorite  in  consequence  of  his 
rolor  not  being  very  dissimilar  to  that  of  well  tarred  Russia  hemp; 
while  the  resemblance  was  increased  by  many  a  dab  of  pitch, 
which  his  rough  coat  inbibed  from  the  seams  between  the  planks 
of  the  deck  in  hot  weather. 

If  old  Shakings  was  of  no  great  beauty,  he  was  at  least,  the 
most  companionable  of  dogs;  and  though  he  dearly  loved  the 
midshipmen  and  was  dearly  beloved  by  them  in  return,  he  had 
enough  of  the  animal  in  his  composition  to  take  a  higher  pleas- 
ure in  the  society  of  his  own  kind.  So  that  when  the  high  bred, 
showy  pointers  belonging  to  the  officers  came  on  board,  after  a 
shooting  excursion,  Mr.  Shakings  lost  no  time  in  applying  to  them 
for  news.  The  pointers  who  liked  this  sort  of  familiarity  very 
well  gave  poor  Shakings  all  possible  encouragement.  Not  so  witfy 
their  masters;  they  could  not  bear  to  see  an  abominable  cur,  as 
they  called  our  favorite,  at  once  so  cursedly  dirty  and  so  utterly 
useless,  mixing  with  their  sleek  and  well-fed  animals.  At  first 
their  dislike  was  confined  to  such  insulting  expressions  as  these; 
then  it  came  to  an  occasional  kick  or  knock  on  the  nose  with  the 
but-end  of  a  fowling-piece;  and  lastly,  to  a  sound  cut  with  the 
hunting  whip. 

Shakings,  who  instinctively  knew  his  place,  took  all  this,  like  a 
sensible  fellow,  in  good  part;  while  the  mids,  when  out  of  hearing 
of  the  higher  powers,  uttered  curses  both  loud  and  deep  against 
the  tyranny  and  oppression  exercised  against  an  animal  which, 
in  their  fond  fancy  was  declared  to  be  worth  all  the  dogs  in  the 
ward  room  put  together.  They  were  little  prepared,  however, 
for  the  stroke  which  soon  fell  upon  them,  perhaps  in  consequence 
of  these  murmurs.  To  their  great  horror  and  indignation,  one  of 
th-e  Lieutenants,  provoked  at  some  liberty  which  Master  Shakings 
had  taken  with  his  new  polished  boots,  called  out  one  morning, — 

"Man  the  jolly  boat,  and  land  that  infernal,  dirty,  ugly,  beast 
of  a  dog,  belonging  to  the  young  gentlemen!" 

"  Where  shall  I  take  him  to,  sir?"  asked  the  strokesman  of  the 
boat. 

"  Oh,  any  where;  pull  to  the  nearest  part  of  the  shore,  and 
pitch  him  on  the  rocks.  He'll  shift  for  himself,  I  have  no  doubt  " 
So  oTwent  poor  dear  Shakings! 


MIDSHIPMAN'S  PKANKS.  205 

If  a  stranger  had  come  into  the  midshipmen's  birth  at  that  mo- 
nent,  he  might  have  thought  His  Majesty's  naval  service  was 
about  to  be  broken  up.  All  allegiance,  discipline,  or  subordi- 
nation, seemed  utterly  cancelled  by  this  horrible  act.  Many  were 
the  execrations  hurled  upwards  at  the  oifending  "  knobs,"  who 
we  thought  were  combining  to  make  our  lives  miserable.  Some 
of  our  party  voted  for  writing  a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  the  Ad- 
miral against  this  unheard  of  outrage  ;  and  one  youth  swore  deeply 
that  he  would  leave  the  service  unless  justice  was  obtained.  But 
as  he  had  been  known  to  swear  the  same  thing  half  a  dozen  times 
every  day  since  he  had  joined  the  ship,  no  great  notice  was  taken 
of  his  pledge.  Another  declared  upon  his  word  of  honor,  that 
such  an  act  was  enough  to  make  a  man  turn  Turk,  and  fly  his 
country !  At  last,  by  general  agreement,  it  was  decided  that  we 
should  not  do  a  bit  of  duty,  or  even  stir  from  our  seats,  till  we 
obtained  redress  for  our  grievances.  However,  while  we  were  in 
the  act  of  vowing  mutiny  and  disobedience,  the  hands  were  turned 
up  to  "  furl  sails ! "  upon  which  the  whole  party,  totally  forgetting 
their  magnanimous  resolution,  scudded  up  the  ladders,  and  jumped 
into  their  stations  with  more  than  usual  alacrity,  wisely  thinking, 
that  the  moment  of  actual  revolt  had  not  yet  arrived. 

A  better  scheme  than  throwing  up  the  service,  or  writing  to  the 
Admiral,  or  turning  Mussulmen,  was  afterwards  concocted.  The 
midshipmen  who  went  on  shore  in  the  next  boat  easily  got  hold  of 
poor  Shakings  who  was  howling  on  the  steps  of  the  watering  place. 
In  order  to  conceal  him,  he  was  stuffed,  neck  and  crop,  into  the 
captain's  clothes-bag,  brought  safely  on  board,  and  restored  once 
more  to  the  bosom  of  his  friends. 

In  spite  of  all  we  could  do,  however,  to  keep  Master  Shakmgs 
below,  he  presently  found  his  way  to  the  quarter-deck,  to  receive 
the  congratulations  of  the  other  dogs.  There  he  was  soon  detect- 
ed by  the  higher  powers,  and  very  shortly  afterwards  trundled 
over  the  gangway  and  again  tossed  on  the  beach.  Upon  this 
occasion  he  was  honored  with  the  presence  of  one  of  his  own 
masters,  a  middy,  who  was  specially  desired  to  land  the  brute, 
and  not  bring  him  on  board  again.  Of  course  this  particular 
youngster  did  not  bring  the  dog  off;  but,  before  night,  somehow 
or  other,  old  Shakings  was  snoring  away,  in  grand  chorus  with 
his  more  fashionable  friends  the  pointers,  and  dreaming  no  evil, 
before  the  door  of  the  very  officer's  cabin  whose  beautiful  polished 
boots  he  had  brushed  so  rudely  in  the  morning, — an  offence  which 
had  led  to  his  banishment. 

This  second  return  of  our  dog  was  too  much.  The  whole  posse 
of  us  were  sent  for  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  in  very  distinct  terms 
ordered  not  to  bring  Shakings  on  board  again.  These  injunc- 
tions having  been  given,  this  wretched  victim,  as  we  termed  him, 
of  oppression,  was  once  more  landed  amongst  the  cedar  groves. 
This  time  he  remained  full  a  week  on  shore  :  but  how  or  when  ho 
18 


206  MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS. 

ever  found  his  way  off  again,  no  one  ever  knew;  at  least  no  one 
chose  to  divulge.  Never  was  there  anything  like  the  mutual  joy 
felt  by  Shakings  and  his  two  dozen  masters.  He  careered  about 
the  ship,  barked  and  yelled  with  delight,  and,  in  his  raptures, 
actually  leaped,  with  his  dirty  feet  on  the  milk-white  duck  trousers 
of  the  disgusted  officers,  who  heartily  wished  him  at  the  bottom 
of  the  anchorage!  Thus  the  poor  beast  unwittingly  contributed 
to  accelerate  his  hapless  fate,  by  this  ill-timed  show  of  confidence 
in  those  who  were  then  plotting  his  ruim.  If  he  had  kept  his 
paws  to  himself,  and  staid  quietfy  in  the  dark  recesses  of  the 
cock-pit,  wings,  cable-tiers  and  other  wild  regions,  the  secrets  of 
which  were  known  only  to  the  inhabitants  of  our  sub-marine  world, 
all  might  yet  have  been  well. 

We  had  a  grand  jollification  on  the  night  of  Shakings  resto- 
ration; and  his  health  was  in  the  very  act  of  being  drunk,  with 
three  times  three,  when  the  officer  of  the  watch,  hearing  an  uproar 
below,  the  sounds  of  which  were  distinctly  conveyed  up  the  wind- 
sail,  sent  down  to  put  our  lights  out,  and  we  were  forced  to  march 
off  growling  to  our  hammocks. 

Next  day  to  our  surprise  and  horror,  old  Shakings  was  nowhere 
to  be  seen  or  heard  of.  We  searched  every  where,  interrogated 
the  cockswains  of  all  the  boats,  and  crossquestioned  the  marines, 
who  had  been  sentries  during  the  night  on  the  forecastle  gangways 
arid  poop,  but  all  in  vain! — no  traces  of  Shakings  could  be  found. 

At  length  the  opinion  began  to  gain  ground  amongst  us, 
that  the  poor  beast  had  been  put  to  death  by  some  diabolical 
means,  and  our  ire  mounted  accordingly.  This  suspicion  seemed 
the  more  natural,  as  the  officers  said  not  a  word  about  the  matter, 
nor  even  asked  us  what  we  had  done  with  our  dog.  While  we 
were  in  this  state  of  excitement  and  distraction  for  our  loss,  one 
of  the  midshipmen,  who  had  some  drollery  in  his  composition, 
gave  a  new  turn  for  the  expression  of  our  thoughts. 

This  gentleman,  who  was  more  than  twice  as  old  as  most  of  us, 
say 'about  thirty,  had  won  the  affections  of  all  our  class,  by  the 
gentleness  of  his  manners,  and  the  generous  part  he  always  took 
on  our  side.  He  bore  among  us  the  pet  name  of  Daddy;  and 
certainly  he  was  like  a  father  to  those  amongst  us  who,  like  nly- 
self,  were  quite  adrift  in  the  ship  without  any  one  to  look  after 
them.  He  was  a  man  of  talents  and  classical  education,  but  he 
had  entered  the  navy  far  too  late  in  life  ever  to  take  to  it  cordially. 
His  habits,  indeed,  had  become  so  rigid,  that  they  could  never 
be  made  to  bend  to  the  mortifying  kind  of  discipline,  which  it  ap- 
pears every  officer  should  run  through,  but  which  only  the  young 
arid  light-hearted  can  brook.  Our  worthy  friend,  accordingly, 
with  all  his  abilities,  tastes,  and  acquirements,  never  seemed  at 
home  on  board  the  ship,  and  unless  a  man  can  reach  this  point  of 
liking  for  the  sea,  he  is  better  on  the  shore.  At  all  events  old 
Daddy  cared  more  about  his  books  than  about  blocks,  and  delight- 


MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS.  207 

ed  more  in  giving  us  assistance  in  our  literary  pursuits,  and  trying 
to  teach  us  to  be  useful,  than  in  rendering  himself  a  proficient  in 
those  professional  mysteries,  which  he  never  hoped  to  practise  in 
earnest  himself. 

What  this  very  interesting  person's  early  history  was,  we  could 
never  find  out;  nor  why  he  entered  the  navy;  nor  how  it  came, 
that  a  man  of  his  powers  and  accomplishments  should  have  been 
kept  back  so  long.  Indeed  the  youngsters  never  inquired  into 
these  matters,  being  quite  contented  to  have  the  advantage  of  his 
protection  against  the  oppression  of  the  oldsters,  who  occasionally 
bullied  them.  Upon  all  occasions  of  difficulty,  we  were  in  the 
habit  of  clustering  around  him,  to  tell  our  grievances,  great  and 
small,  with  the  certainty  of  always  finding  in  him  that  great  desi- 
deratum in  calamity — a  patient  and  friendly  listener. 

It  will  easily  be  supposed,  that  our  kind  Daddy  took  more  than 
usual  interest  in  the  affair  of  Shakings,  and  that  he  was  applied 
to  by  us  at  every  stage  of  the  transaction.  He  was  sadly  perplex- 
ed, of  course,  when  the  dog  was  finally  missing ;  and  for  some  days, 
he  could  give  us  no  comfort,  nor  suggest  any  mode  of  revenge 
which  was  not  too  dangerous  for  his  young  friends  to  put  into 
practice.  He  prudently  observed,  that  as  we  had  no  certainty  to 
go  upon,  it  would  be  foolish  to  get  ourselves  into  any  serious 
scrape  for  nothing  at  all. 

"  There  can  be  no  harm,  however,"  he  continued  in  his  dry  and 
slightly  sarcastic  way,  which  all  who  knew  him  will  recollect,  as 
well  as  if  they  saw  him  now,  drawing  his  hand  slowly  across  his 
chin,  "  There  can  be  no  harm  my  boys,  in  putting  the  other  dogs 
in  mourning  for  their  departed  friend  Shakings;  for  whatever  is 
become  of  him,  he  is  lost  to  them,  as  well  as  to  us,  and  his  memory 
ought  to  be  duly  respected." 

This  hint  was  no  sooner  given  than  a  cry  was  raised  for  crape, 
and  every  chest  and  bag  ransacked,  to  procure  badges  of  mourn- 
ing. The  pointers  were  speedily  rigged  up  with  a  bunch  of  crape 
tied  in^a  handsome  bow,  upon  the  left' leg  just  above  the  knee. 
The  joke  took  immediately.  The  officers  could  not  help  laugh- 
ing; for,  though  we  considered  them  little  better  than  fiends,  at 
that  moment  of  excitement,  they  were  in  fact,  except  in  this  in- 
stance, the  best  natured  and  most  indulgent  men  I  remember  to 
have  sailed  with.  They  of  course  ordered  the  crape  to  be  instant- 
ly taken  off  from  the  dogs'  legs:  and  one  of  the  officers  remarked 
to  us  seriously,  that  as  we  had  now  had  our  piece  of  fun  out,  there 
were  to  be  no  more  such  tricks. 

Off  we  scampered  to  consult  old  Daddy  what  was  to  be  done 
next,  as  we  had  been  positively  ordered  not  to  meddle  any  more 
with  the  dogsV 

"  Put  the  pigs  in  mourning,"  he  said. 

All  our  crape  was  expended  by  this  time,  but  this  want  was 
soon  supplied  by  men  whose  trade  it  was  to  discover  resources 


208  MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS. 

in  difficulty.  With  a  generous  spirit  of  devotion  tolhe  cause  of 
public  spirit  one  of  these  juvenile  mutineers  pulled  off  his  black 
neck-handkerchief,  and,  tearing  it  in  pieces,  gave  a  portion  to  each 
of  the  circle  and  away  we  all  started  to  put  into  practice  this  new 
suggestion  of  our  director-general  of  mischief. 

The  row  which  ensued  in  the  pig-sty  was  prodigious — for  in 
those  days,  hogs  were  allowed  a  place  on  board  a  man-of-war, — 
a  custom  wisely  abolished  of  late  years,  since  nothing  can  be 
more  out  of  character  with  any  ship  than  such  nuisances.  As  these 
matters  of  taste  and  cleanliness  were  nothing  to  us,  we  did  not 
intermit  our  noisy  labor  till  every  one  of  the  grunters  had  his  arm- 
let of  such  crape  as  we  had  been  able  to  muster.  We  then  watch- 
ed our  opportunity  and  opened  the  door  so  as  to  let  out  the  whole 
herd  of  swine  on  the  main  deck  just  at  a  moment  when  a  group  of 
officers  were  standing  on  the  fore  part  of  the  cfuarter  deck.  Of 
course  the  liberated  pigs  delighted  with  their  freedom,  passed  in 
review  under  the  very  noses  of  our  superiors,  each  with  his  mourn- 
ing knot  displayed,  grunting  or  squealing  along,  as  if  it  was  their 
express  object  to  attract  attention  to  their  domestic  sorrow  for  the 
loss  of  Shakings.  The  officers  were  excessively  provoked,  as 
they  could  not  help  seeing  all  this  was  affording  entertainment,  at 
their  expense,  to  the  whole  crew;  for  though  the  men  took  no 
part  in  this  piece  of  insubordination,  they  were  ready  enough,  in 
those  times  of  the  weary,  weary  peace,  to  catch  at  any  species  of 
distraction  or  devilry,  no  matter  what,  to  compensate  for  the  loss 
of  pommeling  their  enemies. 

The  matter,  therefore,  necessarily  became  rather  serious;  and 
the  whole  gang  of  us  being  sent  for  on  the  quarter  deck,  we  were 
ranged  in  a  line,  each  with  his  toes  at  the  edge  of  a  plank  accord- 
ing to  the  orthodox  fashion  of  these  gregarious  scoldings,  techni- 
cally called  '  toe-the-line  matches.'  We  were  given  to  under- 
stand that  our  proceedings  were  impertinent,  and  after  the  orders 
we  had  received,  highly  offensive.  It  was  with  much  difficulty 
that  either  party  could  keep  their  countenances  during  this  offi- 
cial lecture,  for  while  it  was  going  on,  the  sailors  were  endeav- 
oring by  the  direction  of  the  officers,  to  remove  the  bits  of  silk 
from  the  legs  of  the  pigs.  If  however  it  be  difficult — as  most 
difficult  we  found  it — to  put  a  hog  in  mourning,  it  is  a  job  ten  times 
more  troublesome  to  take  him  out  again.  Such  at  least  is  the  fair 
inference  from  these  two  experiments;  the  only  ones,  perhaps,  on 
record, — for  it  cost  half  the  morning  to  undo  what  we  had  done 
in  less  than  an  hour;  to  say  nothing  of  the  unceasing  and  out- 
rageous uproar  which  took  place  along  the  decks,  especially  un- 
der the  guns,  and  even  under  the  coppers  forward  in  the  galley, 
where  two  or  three  of  the  youngest  pigs  had  wedged  themselves, 
apparently  resolved  to  die  rather  than  submit  to  the  degradation 
of  being  deprived  of  their  mourning. 

All  this  was  very  creditable  to  the  memory  of  poor  Shakings; 


209 

but,  in  the  course  of  the  day  the  real  secret  of  this  extraordinary 
difficulty  of  taking  a  pig  out  of  mourning  was  discovered.  Two  of 
(he  mids  were  detected  in  the  very  act  of  tying  a  bit  of  black  bun- 
tin  to  the  leg  of  a  sow,  from  which  the  seamen  declared  they  had 
already  cut  off  crape  and  silk  enough  to  have  made  her  a  complete 
suit  of  black. 

As  soon  as  these  new  offences  were  reported,  the  whole  party 
of  us  were  ordered  to  the  mast-head  as  a  punishment.  Some  were 
sent  to  sit  on  topmast  cross-trees,  and  some  on  the  top-gallant  yard- 
arms,  and  one  small  gentleman  being  perched  at  the  jib-boom  end, 
was  very  properly  balanced  abaft  by  another  little  culprit  at  the 
extremity  of  the  gaff.  In  this  predicament  we  were  hung  out  to 
dry  for  five  or  six  hours,  as  old  Daddy  remarked  to  us  with  a  grin, 
when  we  were  called  down  as  the  night  fell. 

Our  persevering  friend,  being  rather  provoked  at  the  punish- 
ment of  his  young  flock,  now  set  to  work  to  discover  the  real  fate 
of  Shakings.  It  soon  occurred  to  him,  that  if  the  dog  had  really 
been  made  away  with,  as  he  shrewdly  suspected,  the  butcher,  in 
all  probability  must  have  had  a  hand  in  the  murder ;  accordingly, 
he  sent  for  him  in  the  evening,  when  the  following  dialogue  took 
place  : — 

"  Well,  butcher,  will  you  have  a  glass  of  grog  to-night  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  thank  you.  •  Here's  your  honor's  health ! " 
said  the  other,  after  smoothing  down  his  hair,  and  pulling  an  im- 
mense quid  of  tobacco  out  of  his  mouth. 

Old  Daddy  observed  the  peculiar  relish  with  which  the  butcher 
took  his  glass,  and  mixing  another,  a  good  deal  more  potent, 
placed  it  before  the  fellow,  and  continued  the  conversation  in  these 
words  : 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is  Mr.  Butcher — you  are  as  humane  as  any 
man  in  the  ship,  I  dare  say ;  but,  if  required,  you  know  well,  that 
you  must  do  your  duty,  whether  it  is  on  sheep  or  hogs  ?  " 

"  Surely  sir." 

"  Or  upon  dogs  either  ?  "  suddenly  inquired  the  inquisitor. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  stammered  the  butcher,  quite  taken 
by  surprise  and  thrown  all  aback. 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Daddy,  "  here's  another  glass  for  you — a 
stiff  north-wester.  Come !  tell  us  all  about  it  now.  How  did 
you  get  rid  of  the  dog  ? — of  Shakings,  I  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,"  said  the  peaching  rogue,  "  I  put  him  in  a  bag — 
a  bread  bag,  sir." 

"  Well !— what  then  ?  " 

"  I  tied  up  the  mouth,  and  put  him  overboard — out  of  the  mid- 
ship lower-deck  port,  sir." 

"  Yes — but  he  would  not  sink  !  "  said  Daddy. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  cried  the  butcher,  now  entering  into  the  merciless 
spirit  of  his  trade,  "  I  put  a  four-and-twenty  pound  shot  into  the 
bag  along  with  Shakings." 


<210  MIDSHIPMAN'S  PRANKS. 

"  Did  you? — Then,  Master  Butcher,  all  I  can  say  is,  you  are 
as  precious  a  rascal  as  ever  went  about  unhanged.  There — drink 
your  grog,  and  be  off  with  you!" 

Next  morning  when  the  officers  were  assembled  at  breakfast  in 
the  ward  room,  the  door  of  the  captain  of  marines' cabin  was  sud- 
denly opened  and  that  officer  half  shaved,  and  laughing,  through 
a  collar  of  soap  suds,  stalked  out,  with  a  paper  in  his  hands. 

"  Here,"  he  exclaimed,  "  is  a  copy  of  verses  which  I  found  in 
rny  basin  this  morning.  I  can't  tell  how  they  got  there  or  what 
they  are  about; — but  you  shall  judge." 

So  he  read  the  two  following  stanzas  of  doggerel: — 

"  When  the  Northern  Confederacy  threatened  our  shores, 
And  roused  Albion's  Lion,  reclining  to  sleep, 
Preservation  was  taken  of  all  the  kings  storesj* 
Nor  so  much  as  a  rope-yarn  was  launched  in  the  deep. 

"  But  now  it  is  peace,  other  hopes  are  in  view, 

And  all  active  service  as  light  as  a  feather, 

The  Stores  mav  be  d — d,  and  humanity  too, 

For  Shakings  and  Shot  are  thrown  overboard  together  I" 

I  need  hardly  say  in  what  quarter  of  the  ship  this  biting  morsel  of 
cock-pit  satire  was  concocted,  nor  indeed  who  wrote  it,  for  there 
was  no  one  but  our  good  Daddy  who  was  equal  to  such  a  flight. 
About  midnight,  an  urchin — who  shall  be  nameless — was  thrust 
out  of  one  of  the  after  ports  of  the  lower  deck,  from  which  he 
clambered  up  to  the  marine  officer's  port,  and  the  sash  happening 
to  have  been  lowered  down  on  the  gun,  the  epigram,  copied  by 
another  of  the  youngsters  was  pitched  into  the  soldier's  basin. 

The  wisest  thing  would  have  been  for  the  officer's  to  have  said 
nothing  about  the  matter,  and  let  it  blow  by.  But  angry  people 
are  seldom  judicious — so  they  made  a  formal  complaint  to  the  cap- 
tain, who,  to  do  him  justice,  was  not  a  little  puzzled  how  to  settle 
the  affair.  The  reputed  author  was  called  up,  and  the  captain 
said  to  him — 

"  Pray,  sir, -.are  you  the  writer  of  these  lines?" 

"  I  am  sir,"  he  replied,  after  a  little  consideration. 

"  Then  all  I  can  say  is,"  remarked  the  captain,  "  they  are  clever 
enough,  in  their  way — but  take  my  advice,  and  write  no  more 
such  verses." 

So  the  affair  ended.  The  satirist  took  the  captain's  hint  in  good 
part,  and  confined  his  pen  to  matters  below  the  surface  of  the 
\vater. 

As  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  the  war  broke  out,  there  was 
no  longer  time  for  such  nonsense,  and  our  generous  protector,  old 
Daddy,  some  time  after  the  affair  of  Shakings  took  place,  was 
sent  off  to  Halifax,  in  charge  of  a  prize.  His  orders  were  if  possi- 
ble to  join  his  own  ship,  the  Leander,  then  lying  at  the  entrance 
of  New  York  harbor,  just  within  Sandy  Hook  light-house. 

Our  good  old  friend,  accordingly,  having  completed  his  mission 
and  delivered  his  prize  to  the  authorities  of  Halifax,  took^his^pas- 


THE    SOUND    OF    THE    SEA.  211 

sage  in  the  British  packet  sailing  from  thence  to  the  port  in  which 
we  lay.  As  this  ship  sailed  past  us,  on  her  way  to  New  York,  we 
ascertained,  to  our  great  joy,  that  our  excellent  Daddy  was  actu- 
ally on  board  of  her.  Some  hours  afterwards  the  pilot  boat  was 
seen  coming  to  us,  and  though  it  was  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
all  the  young  mids  came  hastily  on  deck  to  welcome  their  worthy 
messmate  back  again  to  his  ship. 

It  was  late  in  October,  arid  the  wind  blew  fresh  from  the  north- 
westward, so  that  the  ship,  riding  to  the  ebb,  had  her  head  direct- 
ed towards  the  Narrows,  between  Staten  island  and  Long  island; 
consequently  the  pilot-boat, — one  of  those  beautiful  vessels  so  well 
known  to  every  visiterof  the  American  coast, — came  flying  down 
upon  us,  with  the  wind  nearly  right  aft.  Our  joyous  party  were 
all  assembled  on  the  quarter-deck,  looking  anxiously  at  the  boat 
as  she  swept  past  us.  She  then  luffed  round,  in  order  to  sheer 
alongside,  at  which  moment  the  mainsail  jibed,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected. It  was  obvious,  however,  that  something  more  had  taken 
place  than  the  pilot  had  looked  for,  since  the  boat,  instead  of  rang- 
ing up  to  us,  was  brought  right  round  on  her  heel,  and  went  off 
again  upon  a  wind  on  the  other  tack.  The  tide  carried  her  out  of 
sight  for  a  few  minutes,  but  she  was  soon  alongside,  when  we 
learned,  to  our  inexpressible  grief  and  consternation,  that,  on  the 
main-boom  of  the  pilot-boat  swinging  over,  it  had  accidentally 
struck  our  poor  friend  and  pitched  him  headlong  overboard. 
Being  encumbered  with  a  great  coat,  the  pockets  of  which,  as  we 
afterwards  learned,  were  loaded  with  his  young  companions'  let- 
ters, brought  from  England  by  this  packet,  he  in  vain  struggled 
to  reach  the  boat  and  then  sunk  to  rise  no  more. 


THE  SOUND  OF  THE  SEA. 

BY   MRS.    HEMANS. 

Thou  art  sounding  on,  thou  mighty  sea, 

For  ever  and  the  same  ! 
The  ancient  rocks  yet  ring  to  thee, 

Whose  thunders  naught  can  tame. 

Oh  !  many  a  glorious  voice  is  gone, 
From  the  rich  bowers  of  earth, 

And  hushed  is  many  a  lovely  tone 
Of  mournfulness  or  mirth. 

The  Dorian  flute  that  sighed  of  yore 

Along  thy  wave,  is  still ; 
The  harp  of  Judah  peals  no  more 

On  Zion's  awful  hill. 


212  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHCENIX. 

And  Memnon's  lyre  hath  lost  the  chord 
That  breathed  the  mystic  tftne, 

And  the  songs,  at  Rome's  high  triumphs  poured, 
Are  with  her  eagles  flown. 

And  mute  the  Moorish  horn,  that  rang 
O  'er  stream  and  mountain  free, 

And  the  hymn  the  leagued  Crusaders  sang, 
Hath  died  in  Galilee. 

But  thou  art  swelling  on,  thou  deep, 
Through  many  an  olden  clime, 

Thy  billowy  anthem,  ne'er  to  sleep 
Until  the  close  of  time. 

Thou  liftest  up  thy  solemn  voice 

To  every  wind  and  sky, 
And  all  our  earth's  green  shores  rejoice 

In  that  one  harmony. 

It  fills  the  noontide's  calm  profound, 

The  sunset's  heaven  of  gold ; 
And  the  still  midnight  hears  the  sound, 

Ev'n  as  when  first  it  rolled.        . 

Let  there  be  silence  deep  and  strange, 

Where  sceptered  cities  rose  ! 
Thou  speak'st  of  one  who  doth  not  change — 

So  may  our  hearts  repose. 


ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LOSS  OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SHIP 
PHOENIX, 

Off  Cuba,  in  the   Year  1780.     By  Lieutenant  Archer. 

The  Phcenix  of  44  guns,  Captain  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  was  lost 
in  a  hurricane,  off  Cuba,  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  year  1780. 
The  same  hurricane  destroyed  the  Thunderer,  74;  Stirling  Cas- 
tle, 64;  La  Blanche,  42;  Laurel,  28;  Andromeda,  28;  Deas 
Castle,  24;  Scarborough,  20;  Beaver's  Prize,  16;  Barbadoes,  14; 
Cameleon,  14;  Endeavour,  14;  and  Victor,  10  guns.  Lieutenant 
Archer  was  first-lieutenant  of  the  Phcenix  at  the  time  she  was 
lost.  His  narrative  in  a  letter  to  his  mother,  contains  a  most 
correct  and  animated  account  of  one  of  the  most  awful  events  in 
the  service.  It  is  so  simple  and  natural  as  to  make  the  reader 
feel  himself  as  on  board  the  Phrenix.  Every  circumstance  is 
detailed  with  feeling,  and  powerful  appeals  are  continually  made 
to  the  heart.  It  must  likewise  afford  considerable  pleasure  to 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHOENIX.  213 

observe  the  devout  spirit  of  a  seaman  frequently  bursting  forth, 
ami  imparting  sublimity  to  the  relation, 

Jit  Sea,  June  30,  1781. 
MY  DEAR  MOTHER, 

I  am  now  going  to  give  you  an  account  of  our  last  cruise  in  the 
Phoenix;  and  must  premise,  that  should  any  one  see  it  besides 
yourself,  they  must  put  this  construction  on  it — that  it  was  origi- 
nally intended  for  the  eyes  of  a  mother,  and  a  mother  only — as, 
upon  that  supposition,  my  feelings  may  be  tolerated.  You  will 
also  meet  with  a  number  of  sea  terms,  which,  if  you  don't  under- 
stand, why,  I  cannot  help  you,  as  I  am  unable  to  give  a  sea 
description  in  any  other  words. 

To  begin  then: — On  the  C2d  of  August,  1780,  we  weighed  and 
sailed  for  Port  Royal,  bound^  for  Pensacola,  having  two  store-ships 
under  convoy,  and  to  see  safe  in;  then  cruise  off  the  Havanna, 
and  in  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  for  six  weeks.  In  a  few  days  we  made 
the  two  sandy  islands,  that  look  as  if  they  had  just  risen  out  of  the 
sea,  or  fallen  from  the  sky;  inhabited,  nevertheless,  by  upwards 
of  three  hundred  English,  who  get  their  bread  by  catching  turtle 
and  parrots,  and  raising  vegetables,  which  they  exchange  with 
ships  that  pass,  for  clothing  and  a  few  of  the  luxuries  of  life,  as 
rum,  &c.  - 

About  the  12th  we  arrived  at  Pensacola,  without  any  thing 
remarkable  happening,  except  our  catching  avast  quantity  offish, 
sharks,  dolphins,  and  bonettos.  On  the  13th  sailed  singly,  and 
on  the  14th  had  a  very  heavy  gale  of  wind  at  north,  right  off  the 
land,  so  that  we  soon  left  the  sweet  place,  Pensacola,  a  distance 
astern.  We  then  looked  into  the  Havanna,  saw  a  number  of 
ships  there,  and  knowing  that  some  of  them  were  bound  round 
the  bay,  we  cruised  in  the  track:  a  fortnight,  however,  passed, 
and  not  a  single  ship  hove  in  sight  to  cheer  our  spirits.  We  then 
took  a  turn  or  two  round  the  gulf,  but  not  near  enough  to  be  seen 
from  the  shore.  Vera  Cruz  we  expected  would  have  made  us 
happy,  but  the  same  luck  still  continued;  day  followed  day,  and 
no  sail.  The  dollar  bag  began  to  grow  a  little  bulky,  for  every 
one  had  lost  two  or  three  times,  and  no  one  had  won:  this  was  a 
small  gambling  party  entered  into  by  Sir  Hyde  and  ourselves; 
every  one  put  a  dollar  into  a  bag,  and  fixed  on  a  day  when  we 
should  see  a  sail,  but  no  two  persons  were  to  name  the  same  day, 
and  whoever  guessed  right  first  was  to  have  the  bag. 

Being  now  tired  o*f  our  situation,  and  glad  the  cruise  was 
almost  out,  for  we  found  the  navigation  very  dangerous,  owing  to 
unaccountable  currents;  we  shaped  our  course  for  Cape  Antonio. 
The  next  dq,y  the  man  at  the  mast  head,  at  about  orfe  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  called  out:  "A  sail  upon  the  weather  bow!  Ha! 
Ha!  Mr.  Spaniard,  I  think  we  have  you  at  las'  Turn  out  all 


214  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    trfCENIX. 

hands!  make  sail!  All  hands  give  chase!"  There  was  scarcely 
any  occasion  for  this  order,  for  the  sound  of  a  sail  being  in  sight 
flew  like  wild  fire  through  the  ship,  and  every  sail  was  set  in  ar 
instant,  almost  before  the  orders  were  given.  A  lieutenant  at  the 
mast  head,  with  a  spy  glass,  "  What  is  she?"  "  A  large  ship 
studding  athwart  right  before  the  wind.  P-o-r-t!  Keep  her  away! 
set  the  studding  sails  ready!"  Up  comes  the  little  doctor,  rubbing 
his  hands;  "Ha!  ha!  I  have  won  the  bag."  "  The  devil  take 
you  and  the  bag;  look,  what's  ahead  will  fill  all  our  bags." 
Mast-head  again:  "Two  more  sail  on  the  larboard  beam!" 
"Archer,  go  up,  and  see  what  you  can  make  of  them."  "  Upon 
deck  there;  I  see  a  whole  fleet  of  twenty  sail  coming  right  before 
the  wind."  "Confound  the  luck  of  it,  this  is  some  convoy  or 
other,  but  we  must  try  if  we  can  pick  some  of  them  out." 
"  Haul  down  the  studding-sails!  Luff!  bring  her  to  the  wind! 
Let  us  see  what  we  can  make  of  them." 

About  five  we  got  pretty  near  them,  and  found  them  to  be  twen- 
ty-six sail  of  Spanish  merchantmen,  under  convoy  of  three  line 
of  battle  ships,  one  of  which  chased  us;  but  when  she  found  we 
were  playing  with  her  (for  the  old  Phoenix  had  heels)  she  left 
chase,  and  joined  the  convoy;  which  they  drew  up  into  a  lump, 
and  placed  themselves  at  the  outside;  but  we  still  kept  smelling 
about  till  after  dark.  O,  for  the  Hector,  the  Albion,  and  a  frigate, 
and  we  should  take  the  whole  fleet  and  convoy,  worth  some  mil- 
lions! About  eight  o'clock  perceived  three  sail  at  some  distance 
from  the  fleet;  dashed  in  between  them,  and  gave  chase,  and 
were  happy  to  find  they  steered  from  the  fleet.  About  twelve 
came  up  with  a  large  ship  of  twenty-six  guns.  "Archer,  every 
man  to  his  quarters!  run  the  lower  deck  guns  out,  and  light  the 
ship  up:  show  this  fellow  our  force;  it  may  prevent  his  firing  into 
us  and  killing  a  man  or  two."  No  sooner  said  than  done. 
"  Hoa,  the  ship  ahoy,  lower  all  your  sails  down,  and  bring  to 
instantly,  or  I'll  sink  you."  Clatter,  clatter,  went  the  blocks, 
and  away  flew  all  their  sails  in  proper  confusion.  "  What  ship  is 
that?"  "  The  Polly."  "  Whence  came  you?"  "  From  Jamai- 
ca." "Where  are  you  bound?"  "To  New  York."  "What 
ship  is  that?"  "The  Phoenix."  Huzza,  three  times  by  the 
whole  ship's  company.  An  old  grum  fellow  of  a  sailor  standing 
close  by  me:  "  O,  d — m  your  three  cheers,  we  took  you  to  be 
something  else."  Upon  examination  we  found  it  to  be  as  he  re- 
ported, and  that  they  had  fallen  in  with  the  Spanish  fleet  that 
morning,  and  were  chased  the  whole  day,  and  that  nothing  saved 
them  but  our  stepping  in  between;  for  the  Spaniards,  took  us  for 
three  consorts,  and  the  Polly  took  the  Phomix  for  a  Spanish 
frigate,  till  we  hailed  them.  The  other  vessel  in  company  was 
likewise  bound  to  New  York.  Thus  was  I,  from  being  worth 
thousands  in  idea,  reduced  to  the  old  4s.  6d.  a  day  again:  for  the 
'ittle  doctor  made  the  most  prize  money  of  us  all  that  day,  by 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHCENIX.  215 

winning  the  bag,  which  contained  between  thirty  and  forty  dollars; 
but  this  is  nothing  to  what  we  sailors  sometimes  undergo. 

After  parting  company,  we  steered  south-south-east,  to  go 
round  Antonio,  and  so  to  Jamaica,  (our  cruise  being  out)  with  our 
fingers  in  our  mouths,  and  all  of  us  as  green  as  you  please.  It 
happened  to  be  my  middle  watch,  and  about  three  o'clock,  when  a 
man  upon  the  forecastle  bawls  out:  "  Breakers  ahead,  and  land 
upon  the  lee-bow;"  I  looked  out,  and  it  was  so  sure  enough. 
"Ready  about!  put  the  helm  down!  Helm  a  lee!"  Sir  Hyde 
hearing  me  put  the  ship  about,  jumped  upon  deck.  "Archer 
what  's  the  matter?  you  are  putting  the  ship  about  without  my 
orders!"  "  Sir,  'tis  time  to  go  about;  the  ship  is  almost  ashore, 
there  's  the  land."  "  Good  God  so  it  is!  Will  the  ship  stay?" 
"Yes,  Sir,  I  believe  she  will,  if  we  don't  make  any  confusion; 
she  's  all  aback — forward  now?"  "  Well,"  says  he,  "  work  the 
ship,  I  will  not  speak  a  single  word."  The  ship  stayed  very  well. 
"Then,  heave  the  lead!  see  what  water  we  have!"  "Three 
fathom."  "Keep  the  ship  away,  west-north-west." — "  By  the 
mark  three."  "This  won't  do,  Archer."  "  No,  sir,  we  had  bet- 
ter haul  more  to  the  northward;  we  came  south-south-east,  and 
had  better  steer  north-north-west."  "Steady,  and  a  quarter 
three."  "This  may  do,  aa  we  deepen  a  little."  "  By  the  deep 
four."  "Very  well,  my  lad,  heave  quick."  "Five  fathom." 
"That's  a  fine  fellow!  another  cast  nimbly."  "  Quarter  less 
eight."  "  That  will  do,  come,  we  shall  get  clear  by  and  by." 
"  Mark  under  water  five."  "  What  's  that?"  "  Only  five  fath- 
om, Sir."  "  Turn  all  hands  up,  bring  the  ship  to  an  anchor, 
boy!"  "Are  the  anchors  clear!"  "  In  a  moment,  Sir,"  "  All 
clear!"  "  What  water  have  you  in  the  chains  now!"  "  Eight, 
half  nine."  "Keep  fast  the  anchors  till  I  call  you."  "Ay, 
ay,  Sir,  all  fast!"  "  I  have  no  ground  with  this  line."  "How 
many  fathoms  have  you  out?  pass  along  the  deep-sea  line!" 
"Ay,  ay,  Sir."  "  Come  are  you  all  ready?"  "  All  ready, 'Sir." 
"  Heave  away,  watch!  watch!  bear  away,  veer  away,  no  ground, 
Sir,  with  a  hundred  fathom."  "  Thett 's  clever,  come,  Madam 
Phoenix,  there  is  another  squeak  in  you  yet — all  down  but  the 
watch;  secure  the  anchors  again;  heave  the  main-top-sail  to  the 
mast;  luff,  and  bring  her  to  the  wind!" 

I  told  you,  Madam,  you  should  have  a  little  sea-jargon:  if  you 
can  understand  half  of  what  is 'already  said,  I  wonder  at  it,  though 
it  is  nothing  to  what  is  to  come  yet,  when  the  old  hurricane 
begins.  As  soon  as  the  ship  was  a  little  to  rights,  and  all  quiet 
again,  Sir  Hyde  came  to  me  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  the 
tears  almost  starting  from  his  eyes — "  Archer,  we  ought  all,  to 
be  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  safety  of  the  ship,  and  perhaps 
of  ourselves.  I  am  particularly  so;  nothing  but  that  instantane- 
ous presence  of  mind  and  calmness  saved  her:  another  ship's 
length  and  we  should  have  been  fast  on  shore;  had  you  been  the 


216  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PH<ENIX. 

least  difficulty,  or  made  the  least  confusion,  so  as  ti  make  the 
ship  baulk  in  her  stays,  she  must  have  been  inevitably  lost." 
"  Sir,  you  are  very  good,  but  I  have  done  nothing  that  I  suppose 
any  body  else  wi  uld  not  have  done,  in  the  same  situation.  1  did 
not  turn  all  the  hands  up,  knowing  the  watch  able  to  work  the 
ship;  besides,  h«d  it  spread  immediately  about  the  ship,  that  she 
was  almost  ashore,  it  might  have  -created  a  confusion  that  was 
better  avoided."  "  Well,"  says  he,  "  't  is  well  indeed." 

At  daylight  v  e  found  that  the  current  had  set  us  between  the 
Collarudo  rocks  and  Cape  Antonio,  and  that  we  could  not  have 
got  out  any  other  way  than  we  did;  there  was  a  chance,  but 
Providence  is  the  best  pilot.  We  had  sunset  that  day  twenty 
leagues  to  the  south-east  of  our  reckoning  by  the  current. 

After  getting  rlear  of  this  scrape,  we  thought  ourselves  fortu- 
nate, and  made  .ail  for  Jamaica,  but  misfortune  seemed  to  follow 
misfortune.  Th  i  next  night,  my  watch  upon  deck  too,  we  were 
overtaken  by  a  squall,  like  a  hurricane  while  it  lasted;  for 
though  I  saw  it  coming,  arid  prepared  for  it,  yet,  when  it  took  the 
ship,  it  roared,  <  nd  laid  her  down  so,  that  I  thought  she  would 
never  get  up  aga'n.  However,  by  keeping  her  away,  and  clewing 
up  evt  ry  thing,  r  he  rightejl.  The  remainder  of  the  night  we  had 
very  huavy  squa'ls,  and  in  the  morning  found  the  mainmast  sprung 
half  th  3  way  thr<  ugh:  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  leagues  to 
the  le  nvard  of  Jamaica,  the  hurricane  months  corning  on,  the 
head  of  the  mai;  mast  almost  off,  and  at  short  allowance;  well,  we 
must  make  the  best  of  it.  The  mainmast  was  well  fished,  but 
we  were  obliged  to  be  very  tender  of  carrying  sail. 

No'hing  remarkable  happened  for  ten  days  afterwards,  when 
we  ch-ised  a  YVikee  man  of  war  for  six  hours,  but  could  not  get 
near  enough  to  her  before  it  was  dark,  to  keep  sight  of  her;  so 
that  v  e  lost  her  because  unable  to  carry  any  sail  on  the  mainmast. 
In  ab  >ut  twelve  days  more  made  the  island  of  Jamaica,  having 
weatl  ?rod  all  th  )  squalls,  and  put  into  Montego  Bay  for  water; 
so  thj't  we  had  i  strong  party  for  kicking  up  a  di*st  on  shore, 
having  found  th  ee  men  of  war  lying  there.  Dancing,  &c.  &c. 
till  two  o'clock  f  very  morning;  little  thinking  what  was  to  happen 
in  four  days'  tirr  e:  for  out  of  the  four  men  of  war  that  were  there, 
not  one  was  in  I  eing  at  fhe  end  of  that  time,  and  not  a  soul  alive 
hut  t.ioae  lef.  of  our  crew.  Many  of  the  houses,  where  we  had 


been  so  merry,  were  so  completely  destroyed,  that  scarcely  a 
vestige  remain?  d  to  mark  where  they  stood.  Thy  works  are 
wonderful,  ()  God!  praised  be  thy  holy  Name! 

September  tho  ."30th  weighed;  bound  /V  Port  Royal,  round  the 
eastward  of  the  island;  the  Barbadoes  and  Victor  had  sailed  the 
day  before,  and  the  Scarborough  was  to  sail  the  next.  Moderate 
weather  until  October  the  2d.  Spoke  to  the  ISaibadoes  off  Port 
Antonio  in  the  ovening.  At  eleven  at  night  it  began  to  snuffle, 
with  a  monstrous  heavy  appearance  from  the  eastward.  Close 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHCENIX.  217 

reefed  the  top-sails.  Sir  Hyde  sent  for  me:  "What  sort  of 
weather  have  we,  Archer!''  "  It  blows  a  little,  and  has  a  very 
ugh  iook:  if  in  any  other  quarter  but  this,  I  should  say  we  were 
going  to  have  a  gale  of  wind."  "Ay,  it  looks  so  very  often 
here  when  there  is  no  wind  at  all;  however,  don't  hoist  the  top- 
sails till  it  clears  a  little,  there  is  no  trusting  any  country."  At 
twelve  I  was  relieved;  the  weather  had  the  same  rough  look: 
however,  they  made  sail  upon  her,  but  had  a  very  dirty  night.  At 
eight  in  the  morning  I  came  up  again,  found  it  blowing  hard  from 
the  east-north-east  with  close-reefed  top-sails  upon  the  ship,  and 
heavy  squalls  at  times.  Sir  «Hyde  came  upon  deck:  "Well, 
Archer,  what  do  you  think  of  it?"  "  O,  Sir,  't  is  only  a  touch  of 
the  times,  we  shall  have  an  observational  twelve  o'clock;  the 
clouds  are  beginning  to  break;  it  will  clear  up  at  noon,  or  else — 
blow  very  hard  afterwards."  "  I  wish  it  would  clear  up,  but  I 
doubt  it  much.  I  was  once  in  a  hurricane  in  the  East  Indies,  and 
the  beginning  of  it  had  much  the  same  appearance  as  this.  So 
take  in  the  top-sails,  we  have  plenty  of  sea-room." 

At  twelve,  the  gale  still  increasing,  wore  ship,  to  keep  as  near 
mid-channel,  between  Jamaica  and  Cuba,  as  possible;  at  one  the 
gale  increasing  still;  at  two  harder  yet:  it  still  blows  harder! 
Reefed  the  courses,  and  furled  them;  brought  to  under  a  foul 
mizen  stay-sail,  head  to  the  northward.  In  the  evening  no  sign 
of  the  weather  taking  off,  but  every  appearance  of  the  storm  in- 
creasing, prepared  for  a  proper  gale  of  wind;  secured  all  the  sails 
with  spare  gaskets;  good  rolling  tackles  upon  the  yards;  squared 
the  booms;  saw  the  boats  all  made  fast;  new  lashed  the  guns; 
double  breeched  the  lower  deckers;  saw  that  the  carpenters  had 
the  tarpawlings  and  battens  all  ready  for  hatchways;  got  the  top- 
gallant-mast down  upon  the  deck;  jib-boom  and  sprit-sail-yard  fore 
and  aft;  in  fact  every  thing  we  could  think  of  to  make  a  snug 
ship. 

The  poor  devils  of  birds  now  began  to  find  the  uproar  in  the 
elements,  for  numbers,  both  of  sea  and  land  kinds,  came  on  board 
of  us.  I  took  notice  of  some,  which  happening  to  be  to  leeward, 
turned  to  windward,  like  a  ship,  tack  and  tack;  for  they  could  not 
fly  against  it.  Wrhen  they  came  over  the  ship  they  dashed  them- 
selves down  upon  the  deck,  without  attempting  to  stir  till  picked 
up,  and  when  let  go  again,  they  would  not  leave  the  ship,  but  en- 
deavored to  hide  themselves  from  the  wind. 

At  eight  o'clock  a  hurricane;  the  sea  roaring,  but  the  wind 
still  steady  to  a  point;  did  not  ship  a  spoonful  of  water.  How- 
ever, got  the  hatchways  all  secured,  expecting  what  would  be  the 
consequence,  should  the  wind  shift;  placed  the  carpenters  by  the 
mainmast,  with  broad  axes,  knowing,  from  experience,  that  at 
the  moment  you  may  want  to  cut  it  away  to  save  the  ship,  an  axe 
may  not  be  found.  M^ent  to  supper:  bread,  cheese,  and  porter. 
The  ourser  frightened  out  of  his  wits  about  his  bread  bags;  the 

19 


218  THE    LOSS    OP    THE    PHOENIX. 

two  marine  officers  as  white  as  sheets,  not  understanding  the  ship's 
working  so  much,  and  the  noise. of  the  lower  deck  guns;  which, 
by  this  time,  made  a  pretty  screeching  to  people  not  used  to  it; 
it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  ship's  side  was  going  at  each  roll. 
Wooden,  our  carpenter,  was  all  this  time  smoking  his  pipe  and 
laughing  at  the  doctor;  the  second  lieutenant  upon  deck,  and  the 
third  in  his  hammock. 

At  ten  o'clock  I  thought  to  get  a  little  sleep;  came  to  look  into 
my  cot;  it  was  full  of  water;  for  every  seam,  by  the  straining  of 
the  ship,  had  b'egun  to  leak.  Stretched  myself,  therefore,  upon 
deck  between  two  chests,  and  lefUorders  to  be  called,  should  the 
least  thing  happen.  At  twelve  a  midshipman  came  to  me:  "  Mr. 
Archer,  we  are  just  going  to  wear  ship,  Sir!"  "  O,  very 
well,  I'll  be  up  directly,  what  sort  of  weather  have  you  got?" 
"  It  blows  a  hurricane."  Went  upon  deck,  found  Sir  Hyde  there. 
"  It  blows  damned  hard,  Archer."  "  It  does  indeed,  Sir."  '"  I 
don't  know  that  I  ever  remember  its  blowing  so  hard  before,  but 
the  ship  makes  a  very  good  weather  of  it  upon  this  tack  as  she 
bows  the  sea;  but  we  must  wear  her,  as  the  wind  has  shifted  to 
the  south-east,  and  we  were  drawing  right  upon  Cuba;  so  do  you 
go  forward,  and  have  some  hands  stand  by ;  loose  the  lee  yard-arm 
of  the  fore-sail,  and  when  she  is  right  before  the  wind,  whip  the 
clue-garnet  close  up,  and  roll  up  the  sail."  "Sir!  there  is  no 
canvass  can  stand  against  this  a  moment;  if  we  attempt  to  loose 
him  he  will  fly  into  ribands  in  an  instant,  and  we  may  lose  three 
or  four  of  our  people;  she'll  wear  by  manning  the  fore  shrouds." 
"  No,  I  don't  think  she  will."  "  I'll  answer  for  it,  Sir;  I  have 
seen  it  tried  several  times  on  the  coast  of  America  with  success." 
"  Well,  try  it;  if  she  does  not  wear,  we  can  only  loose  the  fore- 
sail afterwards."  This  was  a  ^reat  condescension  from  such  a 
man  as  Sir  Hyde.  However,  by  sending  about  two  hundred  peo- 
ple into  the  fore-rigging,  after  a  hard  struggle,  she  wore;  found 
she  did  not  make  so  good  \v<  ather  on  this  tack  as  on  the  other; 
for  as  the  sea  began  to  run  across,  she  had  not  time  to  rise  from 
one  sea  before  another  lashed  against  her.  Began  to  think  we 
should  lose  our  masts,  as  the  ship  lay  very  much  along,  by  the 
pressure  of  the  wind  constantly  upon  the  yards  and  masts  alone: 
for  the  poor  mizen-stay-sail  had  gone  in  shreds  long  before,  and 
the  sails  began  to  fly  from  the  yards  through  the  gaskets  into 
coach  whips.  My  God!  to  think  that  the  wind  could  have  such 
force! 

Sir  Hyde  now  sent  me  to  see  what,  was  the  matter  between 
decks,  as  there  was  a  good  deal  of  noise.  As  soon  as  I  was  be- 
low, one  of  the  Marine  officers  calls  out:  "  Good  God!  Mr. 
Archer,  we  are  sinking,  the  water  is  up  to  the  bottom  of  my  cot." 
"  Pooh,  pooh!  as  long  as  it  is  not  over  your  mouth,  you  are  well 
off;  what  the  devil  do  you  make  this  noise  for?"  I  found  there 
was  some  water  between  decks,  but  nothing  to  be  alarmed  at: 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHOEMX.  219 

scuttled  the  deck,  and  let  it  run  into  the  well;  fotuid  she  made  a 
good  deal  of  water  through  the  sides  and  decks;  turned  the 
watch  below  to  the  pumps,  though  only  two  feet  of  water  in  the 
well;  but  expected  to  be  kept  constantly  at  work  now,  as  the  ship 
labored  much,  with  scarcely  a  part  of  her  above  water  but  the 
quarter-deck,  and  that  but  seldom.  "  Come,  pump  away,  my 
boys.  Carpenters,  get  the  weather  chain-pump  rigged."  "  All 
readv,  Sir."  "  Then  man  it,  and  keep  both  pumps  going." 

At  two  o'clock  the  chain-pump  was  choked;  set  the  carpenters 
at  work  to  clear  it;  the  two  head  pumps  at  work  upon  deck:  the 
ship  gained  upon  us  while  our  chain-pumps  were  idle;  in  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  they  were  at  work  again,  and  we  began  to  gain 
upon  her.  While  I  was  standing  at  the  pumps,  cheering  the  peo- 
ple, the  carpenter's  mate  came  running  to  me  with  a  face  as  long 
as  my  arm:  "  O,  Sir!  the  ship  has  sprung  a  leak  in  the  gunner's 
room."  "  Go,  then,  and  tell  the  carpenter  to  come  to  me,  but 
don't  speak  a  word  to  any  one  else."  "  Mr.  Goodinoh,  I  am  told 
there  is  a  leak  in  the  gunner's  room;  go  and  see  what  is  the  mat- 
ter, but  don't  alarm  any  body,  and  come  and  make  your  report 
privately  to  me."  In  a  short  time  he  returned:  "Sir,  there's 
nothing  there,  'tis  only  the  water  washing  up  between  the  tim- 
bers that  this  b«.oby  has  taken  for  a  leak."  "  O,  very  well;  go 
upon  deck  and  see  if  you  can  keep  any  of  the  water  from  wash- 
ing down  below."  "  Sir,  I  have  had  four  people  constantly  keep- 
ing the  hatchways  secure,  but  there  is  such  a  weight  of  water 
upon  the  deck  that  nobody  can  stand  it  when  the  ship  rolls." 
The  gunner  soon  afterwards  came  to  me:  "  Mr.  Archer,  I  should 
be  glad  if  you  would  step  this  way  into  the  magazine  for  a 
moment:"  I  thought  soHne  damned  thing  was  the  matter,  and  ran 
directly:  "Well,  what  is  the  mat^r  here?"  "The  ground-tier 
of  powder  is  spoiled,  and  I  want  to  show  you  that  it  is  not  out  of 
carelessness  in  me  in  stowing  it,  for  no  powder  in  the  world  could 
be  better  stowed.  Now,  Sir,  what  am  I  to  do?  if  you  don't  speak 
to  Sir  Hyde,  he  will  be  angry  \vith  me."  I  could  not  forbear 
smiling  to  see  how  easy  he  took  the  danger  of  the  ship,  and  said 
to  him:  "  Let  us  shake  off  this  gale  of  wind  first,  and  talk  of  the 
damaged  powder  afterwards." 

At  four  we  had  gained  upon  the  ship  a  little,  and  I  went  upon 
deck,  it  being  my  watch.  The  second  lieutenant  relieved  me  at 
the  pumps.  Who  can  attempt  to  describe  the  appearance  of 
things  upon  deck  ?  If  I  was  to  write  for  ever  I  could  not  give  you 
an  idea  of  it — a  total  darkness  all  above;  the  sea  on  fire,  running 
as  it  were  in  Alps,  or  Peaks  of  Teneriffe;  (mountains  are  too 
common  an  idea);  the  wind  roaring  louder  than  thunder,  (abso- 
lutely no  flight  of  imagination),  the  whole  made  more  terrible,  if 
possible,  by  a  very  uncommon  kind  of  blue  lightning;  the  poor 
ship  very  much  pressed,  yet  doing  what  she  could,  shaking  her 
sides,  and  groaning  at  every  stroke.  Sir  Hyde  upon  deck  lashed 


220  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHCENIX. 

to  windward!  1  soon  lashed  myself  alongside  of  him,  and  told  him 
the  situation  of  things  below,  saying  the  ship  did  not  make  more 
water  than  might  be  expected  in  such  weather,  and  that  I  was 
only  afraid  of  a  gun  breaking  loose.  "I  am  not  in  the  least 
afraid  of  that ;  I  have  commanded  her  six  years,  and  have  had 
many  a  gale  of  wind  in  her;  so  that  her  iron  work,  which  always 
gives  way  first,  is  pretty  well  tried.  Hold  fast!  that  was  an  ugly 
sea;  we  must  lower  the  yards,  I  believe,  Archer;  the  ship  is  much 
pressed."  "  If  we  attempt  it,  Sir,  we  shall  lose  them,  for  a  man 
aloft  can  do  nothing;  besides  their  being  down  would  ease  the 
ship  very  little;  the  mainmast  is  a  sprung  mast;  I  wish  it  was 
overboard  without  carrying  any  thing  else  along  with  it;  but  that 
can  soon  be  done,  the  gale  cannot  last  for  everj  'twill  soon  be 
daylight  now."  Found  by  the  master's  watch  that  it  was  five 
o'clock,  though  but  a  little  after  four  by  ours;  glad  it  was  so  near 
daylight,  and  looked  for  it  with  much  anxiety.  Cuba,  thou  art 
much  in  our  way!  Another  ugly  sea:  sent  a  midshipman  to  bring 
news  from  the  pumps:  the  ship  was  gaining  on  them  very  much, 
for  they  had  broken  one  of  their  chains,  but  it  was  almost  mended 
again.  News  from  the  pump  again.  "  She  still  gains!  a  heavy 
lee!"  Back-water  from  leeward,  half-way  up  the  quarter-deck; 
filled  one  of  the  cutters  upon  the  booms,  and  tore  her  all  to 
pieces;  the  ship  lying  almost  on  her  beam  ends,  and  not  attempt- 
ing to  right  again.  Word  from  below  that  the  ship  still  gained  on 
them,  as  they  could  not  stand  to  the  pumps,  she  lay  so  much  along. 
I  said  to  Sir  Hyde:  "  This  is"  no  time,  Sir,  to  think  of  saving  the 
masts,  shall  we  cut  the  mainmast  away?"  "Ay!  as  fast  as  you 
can."  I  accordingly  went  into  the  weather  chains  with  a  pole- 
ax,  to  cut  away  the  lanyards;  the  boatswain  went  to  leeward,  and 
the  carpenters  stood  by  the  mast.  We  were  all  ready,  when  a 
very  violent  sea  broke  right  on  board  of  us,  carried  every  thing 
upon  deck  away,  filled  the  ship  with  water,  the  main  and  mizen- 
masts  went,  the  ship  righted,  but  was  in  the  last  struggle  of  sink- 
ing under  us. 

As  soon  as  we  could  shake 'our  heads  above  water,  Sir  Hyde 
exclaimed:  "We  are  gone,  at  last,  Archer!  foundered  at  sea!" 
"  Yes,  Sir,  farewell,  and  the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us!"  I  then 
turned  about  to  look  forward  at  the  ship;  and  thought  she  was 
struggling  to  get  rid  of  some  of  the  water;  but  all  in  vain,  she  was 
almost  full  below.  "  Almighty  God!  I  thank  thee,  that  now  I  am 
leaving  this  world,  which  I  have  always  considered  as  only  a  pas- 
sage to  a  better,  I  die  with  a  full  hope  of  thy  mercies,  through 
the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  thy  son,  our  Saviour!" 

I  then  felt  sorry  that  I  could  swim,  as  by  that  means  I  might 
be  a  quarter  of  an  hour  longer  dying  than  a  man  who  could  not, 
and  it  is  impossible  to  divest  ourselves  of  a  wish  to  preserve  life. 
At  the  end  of  these  reflections  1  thought  1  heard  the  ship  thump 
and  grinding  under  our  feet;  it  was  so.  "  Sir,  the  ship  is  ashore!" 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHOZ.VIX.  221 

"What  do  you  say?"  "The  ship  is  ashore,  and  we  may  save 
ourselves  yet!"  By  this  time  the  quarter-deck  was  full  of  men 
who  had  come  up  from  below;  and  'the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us,' 
riving  about  from  all  quarters.  The  ship  now  made  every  body 
.tie  that  she  was  ashore,  for  every  stroke  threatened  a  total 
dissolution  of  her  whole  frame;  found  she  was  stern  ashore,  and 
the  bosv  broke  the  sea  a  good  deal,  though  it  was  washing  clean 
over  at  every  stroke.  Sir  Hyde  cried  out:  "  Keep  to  the  quarter- 
deck, my  lads,  when  she  goes  to  pieces  'tis  your  best  chance!" 
Providentially  got  the  foremast  cut  away,  that  she  might  not  pay 
round  broad-side.  Lost  five  men  cutting  away  the  fore-mast,  by 
the  breaking  of  a  sea  on  board  just  as  the  mast  went.  That  was 
nothing;  every  one  expected  it  would  be  his  own  fate  next; 
looked  for  daybreak  with  the  greatest  impatience.  At  last  it 
came;  but  what  a  scene  did  it  show  us!  The  ship  upon  a  bed  of 
rocks,  mountains  of  them  on  one  side,  and  Cordilleras  of  water 
on  the  other;  our  poor  ship  grinding  and  crying  out  at  every  stroke 
between  them;  going  away  by  piece-meal.  However,  to  show 
the  unaccountable  workings  of  Providence,  that  which  often  ap- 
pears to  be  the  greatest  evil,  proves  to  be  the  greatest  good! 
That  unmerciful  sea  lifted  and  beat  us  up  so  high  among  the  rocks, 
that  at  last  the  ship  scarcely  moved.  She  was  very  strong,  and 
did  not  go  to  pieces  at  the  first  thumping,  thoug"h  her  decks  tum- 
bled in.  We  found  afterwards  that  she  had  beat  over  a  ledge  of 
rocks,  almost  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  extent  beyond  us,  where, 
if  she  had  struck,  every  soul  of  us  must  have  perished. 

I  now  began  to  think  of  getting  on  shore,  so  stripped  off  my 
coat  and  shoes  for  a  swim,  and  looked  for  a  line  to  carry  the  end 
with  me.  Luckily  could  not  find  one,  which  gave  me  time  for 
recollection:  "  This  wont  do  for  me,  to  be  the  first  man  out 
of  the  ship,  and  first  lieutenant;  we  may  get  to  England  again, 
and  people  may  think  I -paid  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  myself 
and  did  not  care  for  any  body  else.  Xo,  that  wont  do;  instead  of 
i  being  the  first,  I'll  see  every  man,  sick  and  well,  out  of  her  be- 
fore me."  ' 

I  now  thought  there  was  no  probability  of  the  ship's  soon  going 

lo  pieces,  therefore  had  not  a  thought  of  instant  death:  took  a  look 

1  round  with  a  kind  of  philosophic  eye,  to  see  how  the  same  situa- 

1  tion  affected  my  companions,  and  was  surprised  to  find  the  most 

i  swaggering,  swearing  bullies  in  fine  weather,  now  the  most  pitiful 

i  wretches  on  earth,  when  death  appeared  before  them.     However, 

two  got   safe;   by  which   means,   with  a  line,  we  got  a  hawser  on 

shore,  and  made  fast  to  the  rocks,  upon  which  many  ventured  and 

arrived  safe.      There  were  some  sick  and  wounded  on  board,  who 

could  not  avail  themselves  of  this  method;    we,  therefore,  got    a 

spare  top-sail-yard  from  the  chains  and  placed  one  end  ashore  and 

the  other  on  the  cabin  window,  so  that  most  of  the  sick  got  ashore 

this  way. 


222  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PHCENIX. 

As  I  had  determined,  so  I  was  the  last  man  out  of  the  ship, 
this  was  about  ten  o'clock.  The  gale  now  began  to  break.  Sir 
Hyde  came  to  me,  and  taking  me  by  the  hand  was  so  affected 
that  he  was  scarcely  able  to  speak.  "Archer,  I  am  happy  be- 
yond expression,  to  see  you  on  shore,  but  look  at  our  poor  Phoe- 
nix!" I  turned  about,  but  could  not  say  a  single  word,  being  too 
lull:  my  mind  had  been  too  intensely  occupied  before;  but  every 
thing  now  rushed  upon  me  at  once,  so  that  I  could  not  contain 
myself,  and  I  indulged  for  a  full  quarter  of  an  hour  in  tears. 

By  twelve  it  was  pretty  moderate;  got  some  nails  on  shore  and 
made  tents;  found  great  quantities  offish  driven  up  by  the  sea 
into  holes  of  the  rocks;  knocked  up  afire,  and  had  a  most  com- 
fortable dinner.  In  the  afternoon  made  a  stage  from  the  cabin- 
windows  to  the  rocks,  and  got  out  some  provisions  and  water,  lest 
the  ship  should  go  to  pieces,  in  which  case  we  must  all  have  per- 
ished of  hunger  and  thirst;  for  we  were  upon  a  desolate  part  of 
the  coast,  and  under  a  rocky  mountain,  that  could  not  supply  us 
with  a  single  drop  of  water. 

Slept  comfortably  this  night  and  the  next  day,  the  idea  of  death 
vanishing  by  degrees,  the  prospect  of  being  prisoners,  during  the 
war,  at  the  Havanna,  and  walking  three  hundred  miles  to  it 
through  the  woods,  was  rather  unpleasant.  However,  to  save  life 
for  the  present,  we  employed  this  day  in  getting  more  provisions 
and  water  on  shore,  which  was  not  an  easy  matter,  on  account  of 
decks,  guns,  and  rubbish,  and  ten  feet  water  that  lay  over  them. 
In  the  evening  I  proposed  to  Sir  Hyde  to  repair  the  remains  of 
the  only  boat  left,  and  to  venture  in  her  to  Jamaica  myself;  and 
in  case  I  arrived  safe,  to  bring  vessels  to  take  them  all  off;  a  pro- 
posal worthy  of  consideration.  It  was,  next  day,  agreed  to; 
therefore  got  the  cutter  on  shore,  and  set  the  carpenters  to  work 
on  her;  in  two  days  she  was  ready,  and  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  I  embarked  with  four  volunteers  and  a  fortnight's  pro- 
vision, hoisted  English  colors  as  we  put  off  from  the  shore,  and 
received  three  cheers  from  the  lads  left  behind,  which  we  returned, 
and  set  sail  with  a  light  heart;  having  not  the  least  doubt,  that, 
with  God's  assistance,  we  should  come  and  bring  them  all  off. 
Had  a  very  squally  night,  and  a  very  leaky  boat,  so  as  to  keep 
two  buckets  constantly  baling.  Steered  her  myself  the  whole 
night  by  the  stars,  and  in  the  morning  saw  the  coast  of  Jamaica 
distant  twelve  leagues.  At  eight  in  the  evening  arrived  at  Mon- 
tego  Bay. 

I  must  now  begin  to  leave  off,  particularly  as  I  have  but  half 
an  hour  to  conclude;  else  my  pretty  little  short  letter  will  lose  its 
passage,  which  I  should  not  like,  after  being  ten  days,  at  differ- 
ent times,  writing  it,  beating  up  with  the  convoy  to  the  northward,, 
which  is  a  reason  that  this  epistle  will  never  read  well;  for  I  never 
sat  down  with  a  proper  disposition  to  go  on  with  it;  but  as  I  knew 
something  of  the  kind  would  please  you,  I  was  resolved  to  finish 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  225 

it'  yet  it  will  not  bear  an  overhaul;  so  don't  expose  your  son's 
nonsense. 

But  to  proceed — I  instantly  sent  off  an  express  to* the  admiral, 
another  to  the  Porcupine  man  of  war,  and  went  myself  to  Martha 
Bray  to  get  vessels;  for  all  their  vessels  here,  as  well  as  many  of 
their  houses,  were  gone  to  JVfoco.  Got  three  small  vessels,  and 
set  out  back  again  to  Cuba,  where  I  arrived  the  fourth  day  after 
leaving  my  companions.  I  thought  the  ship's  crew  would  have 
devoured  me  on  my  landing;  they  presently  whisked  me  up  on  their 
shoulders  and  carried  me  to  the  tent  where  Sir  Hyde  was. 

I  must  omit  many  little  occurrences  that  happened  on  shore, 
for  want  of  time;  but  I  shall  have  a  number  of  stories  to  tell  when 
I  get  alongside  of  you;  and  the  next  time  I  visit  you  I  shall  not 
be  in  such  a  hurry  to  quit  you  as  I  was  the  last,  for  then  I  hoped 
my  nest  would  have  been  pretty  well  feathered: — But  my  tale  is 
forgotten, 

I  found  the  Porcupine  had  arrived  that  day,  and  the  lads  had 
built  a  boat  almost  ready  for  launching,  that  would  hold  fifty  of 
them,  which  was  intended  for  another  trial,  in  case  I  had  founder- 
ed. Next  day  embarked  all  our  people  that  were  left,  amounting 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty;  for  some  had  died  of  their  wounds  they 
received  in  getting  on  shore;  others  of  drinking  rum,  and  others 
had  straggled  into  the  country.  All  our  vessels  were  so  full  of 
people,  that  we  could  not  take  away  the  few  clothes  that  were 
saved  from  the  wreck;  but  that  was  a  trifle  since  we  had  preserv- 
ed our  lives  and  liberty.  To  make  short  of  my  story,  we  all 
arrived  safe  at  Montego  Bay,  and  shortly  after  at  Port  Royal,  in 
the  Janus,  which  was  sent  on  purpose  for  us,  and  were  all  hon- 
orably acquitted  for  the  loss  of  the  ship.  I  was  made  admiral's 
aid  de  camp,  and  a  little  time  afterwards  sent  down  to  St.  Juan's 
as  captain  of  the  Resource,  to  bring  what  were  left  of  the  poor 
devils  to  Blue  Fields,  on  the  Musquito  shore,  and  then  to 
Jamaica,  where  they  arrived  after  three  months  absence,  and 
without  a  prize,  though  I  looked  out  hard  off  Porto  Beilo  and 
Carthagena.  Found  in  my  absence  that  I  had  been  appointed 
captain  of  the  Tobago,  where  I  remain  his  Majesty's  most  true 
and  faithful  servant,  and  my  dear  mother's  most  dutiful  son, 

ARCHER. 


MUTINY  OF  THE  BOUNTY. 

The  merchants  and  planters  of  the  West  India  islands,  having 
represented  to  his  majesty  that  an  essential  benefit  might  be  de- 
rived by  introducing  the  bread-fruit  as  an  article  of  food  for  the 


224  MUTINY   OF   THE    BOUNTY. 

inhabitants  of  those  islands:  his  majesty  was  graciously  pleased 
to  direct  the  board  of  Admiralty  to  equip  a  ship  for  this  purpose. 
Accordingly  one  proper  for  such  a  voyage  was  purchased,  and 
fitted  up  in  a  most  commodious  manner  to  receive  the  plants.  She 
was  named  the  Bounty,  her  burden  about  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
tons,  and  the  command  conferred  on  Lieutenant  W.  Bligh,  who 
had  sailed  as  master  with  Captain  Jarnes  Cook,  on  his  voyage  of 
discoveries.  The  whole  crew  consisted  of  forty-six. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1787,  the  Bounty  arrived  at  Spithead, 
and  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  Mr.  Bligh  received  his  final 
orders  from  the  Admiralty,  which  were  to  proceed  round  Cape 
Horn  to  the  Society  islands,  there  to  take  on  board  as  many  of 
the  bread-fruit  trees  and  plants  as  may  be  thought  necessary, 
from  thence  to  proceed  through  Endeavour  Straights,  to  Prince's 
Island  in  the  Straights  of  Sunda,  or  if  it  should  be  more  con- 
venient, to  pass  on  the  eastern  side  of  Java,  to  some  port  on  the 
north  side  of  that  island,  where  any  bread-fruit  trees  which  may 
have  been  injured,  or  have  died,  may  be  replaced  by  mangosteens, 
duriens,  and  other  fruit  trees  of  that  quarter,  as  well  as  the  rice 
plant  which  grows  upon  dry  land.  From  Prince's  Island,  or  the 
island  of  Java,  to  return  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  deposite  one  half  of  the  trees  and  plants  at  his  Majes- 
ty's Botanical  garden  at  St.  Vincent,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Wind- 
ward Islands;  then  to  go  onto  Jamaica,  and  having  delivered  the 
remainder  to  Mr.  East,  or  such  person  or  persons  as  may  be 
authorised  by  the  governor  and  council  to  receive  them,  to  refresh 
the  people  and  return  to  England. 

As  the  season  might  be  too  far  advanced  for  effecting  a  passage 
round  Cape  Horn,  the  Admiralty  gave  Mr.  Bligh  discretional 
orders  in  this  case,  to  go  round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  the  Bounty  sailed  from  Spithead. 
On  the  6th  of  January,  1788  she  anchored  in  Santa  Cruz  road, 
on  the  island  of  Teneriff.  On  the  10th,  having  taken  on  board 
wine  and  other  refreshments,  Mr.  Bligh  proceeded  on  his  voyage. 
On  the  20th  of  March  the  coast  of  Terra  del  Fuego  was  discov- 
ered; from  this  time  they  began  to  experience  very  tempestuous 
weather,  the  winds  in  general  blowing  with  great  violence  from 
the  westward,  attended  with  frequent  snow  and  hail-storms.  JMr. 
Bligh  struggled  with  great  perseverance  against  these  troubles 
for  thirty  days;  and  then  came  to  the  resolution  of  bearing  away 
for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  he  arrived  on  the  23d  of  May. 
While  at  the  Cape  Mr.  Bligh  procured  such  plants  and  seeds  as 
he- thought  would  be  valuable  at  Otaheite,  or  any  other  place  at 
which  he  might  stop.  On  the  1st  of  July  he  sailed  from  the  Cape, 
and  shaped  his  course  for  New  Holland;  the  southern  promontory 
of  which  he  made  on  the  19th  of  August.  The  next  day  he  an- 
chored in  Adventure  Bay:  here  the  ship  was  refitted;  the  only 
fresh  water  to  be  procured  was  what  had  lodged  in  deep  pits  and 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  225 

\ 

gullies  after  the  rainy  season:  it  was  found  perfectly  sweet  and 
good. 

This  part  of  the  coast  of  New  Holland  abounds  in  large  forest- 
trees,  some  running  to  the  height  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet; 
one  in  particular  which  was  seen  by  the  Bounty's  people,  meas- 
ured thirty-two  feet  in  girth.  The  wood  of  these  trees  is  in  gen- 
eral firm,  but  of  two  heavy  and  solid  a  nature  for  masts;  though  it 
might  answer  extremely  well  for  ship-building.  On  the  trunk  of 
a  decayed  tree  was  observed  to  have  been  cut  with  a  knife,  the 
letters,  "  A.  D.  1773,"  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  done  by 
some  of  Captain  Furneaux's  people  who  were  at  this  place  in  the 
March  of  that  year. 

The  natives  who  were  seen,  were  perfectly  naked,  extremely 
wild,  but  inoffensive.  Mr.  Bligh  held  out  every  friendly  encour- 
agement to  have  an  intercourse  with  them,  but  without  effect. 

Previous  to  their  leaving  Adventure  Bay,  Mr.  Nelson,  the 
botanist,  planted  some  apple  and  other  fruit  trees,  and  sowed 
various  kinds  of  seeds.  On  the  4th  of  September  they  sailed  from 
hence,  and  steering  to  the  S.  E.  arrived  on  the  26th  of  October 
in  Matavai  Bay,  in  the  island  of  Otaheite. 

Mr.  Bligh  immediately  set  about  executing  the  object  of  his 
voyage;  for  which  purpose  the  botanists  were  sent  on  shore,  in 
search  of,  and  to  collect  the  bread-fruit  plants,  in  which  they  found 
no  difficulty,  receiving  every  assistance  from  the  natives,  with 
whom  the  greatest  friendship  and  intimacy  subsisted  during  their 
continuance  at  this  island. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1789,  having  collected  as  many  of  the 
trees  and  plants  as  could  be  conveniently  stowed,  they  were  taken 
on  board  to  the  number  of  one  thousand  and  fifteen,  contained  in 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-four  pots,  thirty-nine  tubs,  and  twenty- 
six  boxes;  besides  several  other  plants  of  various  descriptions. 
The  Bounty  being  now  ready  for  sea,  Mr.  Bligh  made  the  fare- 
well presents  to  his  friends,  many  of  whom  expressed  a  great 
desire  to  accompany  him  to  England,  and  shewed  evident  signs 
of  regret  at  their  departure. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  they  took  a  last  and  affectionate  leave  of 
their  hospitable  Otaheiten  friends,  and  put  to  sea;  pursuing  nearly 
the  same  tract  to  the  Friendly  Islands  with  former  navigators;  on 
the  morning  of  the  10th,  an  island  and  several  small  keys  near  it 
were  discovered;  the  island  had  a  most  beautiful  appearance,  it 
was  covered  with  cocoa  nut  and  other  trees,  interspersed  with 
beautiful  lawns.  The  next  day  a  canoe  came  off  with  some  of  the 
natives,  who  were  extremely  familiar,  and  spoke  a  similar  language 
to  those  of  Otaheite.  They  said  the  island  was  called  Wytootac- 
kee.  Its  circumference  is  about  ten  miles;  latitude  18°  50, 
south,  longitude  200°  19  east. 

Leaving  this  island,  they  proceeded  for  the  Friendly  Islands, 
and  on  the  23d  anchored  at  Annamooka;  at  this  place  Mr.  Bligh 


226  MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

saw  an  old  man,  who  he  remembered  when  he  was  here  with 
Captain  Cook,  in  the  year  1777,  from  whom  he  learnt  that  several 
of  the  cattle  which  had  been  then  left  were  still  alive  and  had 
bred.  Mr.  Bligh  had  also  the  satisfaction  to  see  that  most  of  the 
seeds  which  had  been  sown  at  that  time  had  succeeded,  especially 
the  pines,  of  which  fruit  the  natives  were  very  fond. 

On  the  27th,  having  completed  taking  on  board  wood  and  water, 
and  procured  some  bread-fruit  plants  to  replace  those  which  were 
dead  or  sickly,  they  sailed  from  Annamooka. 

A  scene  as  unexpected  as  deplorable  was  now  about  to  present 
itself,  which  rendered  the  object  of  the  voyage,  after  all  Mr. 
Bligh's  exertions,  ineffectual. 

This  individual's  bearing  towards  his  officers  and  crew  as  it 
was  afterwards  proved,  had  never  been  of  the  most  gentle  or 
conciliating  kind;  indeed,  he  had  frequently  indulged  in  the 
coarsest  and  most  brutal  language  towards  them,  and  his  acts 
•were  often  oppressive  in  the  extreme.  In  the  afternoon  of  the 
27th,  Lieutenant  Bligh  came  upon  deck,  and  missing  some  of  the 
cocoa  nuts  which  had  been  piled  up  between  the  guns,  said  they 
had  been  stolen,  and  could  not  have^been  taken  away  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  officers,  all  of  whom  were  sent  for  and 
questioned  on  the  subject.  On  their  declaring  that  they  had  not 
seen  any  of  the  people  touch  them,  he  exclaimed,  "  Then  you 
must  have  taken  them  yourselves;"  and  proceeded  to  inquire 
of  them  separately  how  many  they  had  purchased.  On  coming 
to  Mr.  Christian,  that  gentleman  answered,  "I  do  not  know,  sir; 
but  I  hope  you  do  not  think  me  so  mean  as  to  be  guilty  of  steal- 
ing yours."  Mr.  Bligh  answered,  "  yes,  you  d d  hound,  I 

do —  you  must  have  stolen  them  from  me,  or  you  would  be  able  to 
give  a  better  account  of  them;"  then  turning  to  the  other  officers, 
he  said,  "  God  d — n  you,  you  scoundrels,  you  are  all -thieves 
alike  and  combine  with  the  men  to  rob  me:  I  suppose  you  will 
steal  my  yams  next;  but  I'll  sweat  you  for  it,  you  rascals — I'll 
make  half  of  you  jump  overboard  before  you  get  through  Endeav- 
our Straits."  This  threat  was  followed  by  an  order  to  the  clerk 
"to  stop  the  villains'  grog,  and  give  them  but  half  a  pound  of 
yams  to-morrow;  if  they  steal  them,  I'll  reduce  them  to  a 
quarter." 

On  the  moVning  of  the  28th  of  April,  just  before  sun-rise,  Mr. 
Christian,  one  of  the  mates,  (who  had  for  some  time  been  intrus- 
ted with  the  charge  of  the  third  watch),  accompanied  by  the 
master  at  arms,  gunner's  mate,  and  Thomas  Burkett,  a  seaman, 
entered  Mr.  Bligh's  cabin  while  he  was  asleep,  and  seizing  him, 
bound  his  hands  behind  his  back,  at  the  same  time  threatening 
instant  death  if  he  resisted  or  made  the  least  noise.  Not  intimi- 
dated by  their  threats,  Mr.  Bligh  resolutely  called  for  assistance, 
but  the  mutineers  had  taken  care,  previously  to  secure  all  those 
who  were  not  concerned  in  their  diabolical  scheme.-  They  then 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  227 

pulled  him  from  his  bed,  and  forced  him  upon  deck,  with  nothing 
on  him  but  his  shirt,  where  a  guard  was  placet!  over  him.  The 
boatswain  was  ordered  to  hoist  the  launch  out,  which  being  done, 
Mr.  Hayward  and  Mr.  Hallet,  midshipmen,  Mr.  Samuel,  the 
clerk,  with  some  others,  were  directed  to  go  into  her.  Mr.  Bligh 
frequently  remonstrated  with  his  people  on  the  impropriety  and 
violence  of  their  proceedings,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  them 
to  return  to  their  duty;  but  all  his  efforts  proved  ineffectual:  the 
only  reply  he  could  obtain  was,  "  hold  your  tongue  sir  or  you  are 
dead  this  instant." 

The  officers  who  were  confined  below,  were  next  called  upon 
deck  and  forced  into  the  boat.  The  mutineers  were  some  time 
undecided  whether  they  should  detain  the  carpenter  or  his  mate; 
at  length,  after  much  altercation,  it  was  determined  that  the  car- 
penter should  go  into  the  boat;  and  it  was  not  without  much 
opposition  that  they  permitted  him  to  take  his  tool-chest  with  him. 
Upon  which  some  of  them  swore,  that  "  he  (meaning  Mr.  Bligh) 
would  find  his  way  home  if  he  gets  any  thing  with  him,  and  that 
he  would  have  a  vessel  built  in  less  than  a  month."  While 
others  turned  their  miserable  situation  into  ridicule,  little  expect- 
ing from  the  boat  being  so  deep  and  crowded,  that  she  could  long 
keep  the  sea.  All  those  now  being  in  the  boat  who  were  intended 
to  accompany  their  unfortunate  commander,  Christian  addressed 
him,  saying, — "  Come,  Captain  Bligh,  your  officers  and  men  are 
now  in  the  boat,  and  you  must  go  with  them;  if  you  attempt  to 
make  the  least  resistance  you  will  instantly  be  put  to  death." 
He  was  then  forced  over  the  side,  and  his  hands  unbound. 
When  they  were  putting  him  out  of  the  ship,  Mr.  Bligh  looked 
steadfastly  at  Christian,  and  asked  him,  if  his  treatment  was  a  proper 
return  for  the  many  instances  he  had  received  of  his  friendship? 
At  this  question  he  seemed  confused,  and  answered  with  much 

emotion, — "  That,  Captain  Bligh, that  is  the  thing; 1  am 

in  hell— I  am  in  hell." 

The  boat  was  veered  astern,  and  soon  after  cast  adrift,  amidst 
the  ridicule  and  scoffs  of  these  deluded  and  unthinking  men, 
whose  general  shout  was,  "  huzza  for  Otaheite."  The  armorer 
and  carpenter's  mates  called  on  Mr.  Bligh,  and  begged  him  to 
remember  that  they  had  no  hand  in  the  transaction,  and  some 
others  seemed  to  express  by  their  manner  a  contrition  for  having 
joined  in  the  mutiny. 

As  no  complaints  had  been  made,  or  dissatisfaction  shown, 
Mr.  Bligh  was  at  a  loss  how  to  account  for  this  sudden  and  un- 
expected change  in  the  disposition  of  his  people;  unless  it  rose 
from  the  temptations  held  out  to  them  by  the  chiefs  of  Otaheite, 
who  were  much  attached  to  the  English,  and  allured  them  by 
promises  of  large  possessions  if  they  would  remain  behind;  this, 
in  addition  to  the  connexion  which  they  had  formed  with  the 
women,  whom  Mr.  Bligh  describes  as  handsome,  mild  and  cheer- 


228  MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

ful  in  their  manners  and  conversation;   possessed  of  great  sensi 
sibility,  and  having  sufficient  delicacy  to  make  them  admired  and 
beloved. 

Although  these  were  perhaps  among  the  inducements  which 
led  to  the  mutiny,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  Bligh's  intemperate 
language  and  insulting  demeanor  were  the  chief  causes  of  the 
unhappy  deed.  It  is  pretty  evident,  that  the  mutiny  was  not,  as 
Bligh  in  his  narrative  stated  it  to  have  been,  the  result  of  a  con- 
spiracy. It  appears  from  the  minutes  of  the  court-martial,  which 
was  afterwards  instituted,  that  the  whole  affair  was  planned  and 
executed*  between  the  hours  of  four  and  eight  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  28th  April,  when  Christian  had  the  watch  upon 
deck;  that  Christian,  unable  longer  to  bear  the  abusive  language, 
had  meditated  his  own  escape  from  the  ship  the  day  before,  choos- 
ing to  trust  himself  to  fate  rather  than  submit  to  the  constant  up- 
braiding to  which  he  had  been  subject;  but  the  unfortunate  busi- 
ness of  the  cocoa  nuts  drove  him  to  the  commission  of  the  rash 
and  felonious  act  which  ended,  as  such  criminal  acts  usually  do, 
in  his  own  destruction  and  that  of  a  great  number  of  others,  many 
of  whom  were  wholly  innocent. 

The  following  persons  were  those  turned  adrift  with  Mr.  Bligh 

in  the  boat. 

John  Fryer,  master.  T.  Hayward, 

Tho.  Ledwood,  acting  surgeon;  J.  Hallet, 

he  was  never  heard  of  after  '  Jonn    Norton,    quarter-master; 

Mr.  Bligh  left  Batavia.  killed  by  the  natives  at  Tosoa. 

D.    Nelson,    botanist;    died    at  P.    Linkletter,    quarter-master; 

Batavia.  died  at  Batavia. 

Wm.  Peckover,  gunner.  L.  Lebogue,  sail-maker. 

Wm.  Cole,  boatswain.  John  Smith,  cook. 

Wm.  Purcill,  carpenter.  Tho.  Hall,  ditto;   died  at  Bata- 

Wm.      Elphilstone,      master's-  via. 

mate;  died  at  Batavia.  Robert  Tinkler,  boy. 

There  remained  in  the  Bounty, 

Fletcher     Christian,     master's  Tho.  M'lntosh,    of  carpenter's 

mate.  crew. 

P.  Hey  wood,  }  C.  Churchill,  master  at  arms. 

'E.  Young        £  midshipmen.  Joseph  Coleman,  armorer. 

G.  Stewart,     )  Wm.  Brown,   gardiner;   and  14 
J.  Mills,  gunner's  mate.  able  seamen. 

Before  the  boat  was  cast  off,  Mr.  Bligh  begged  that  some  arms 
might  be  handed  into  her;  but  these  unfeeling  wretches  laughed  at 
him,  and  said  "he  was  well  acquainted  with  the  people  among 
whom  he  was  going,  and  therefore  did  not  want  them."  They, 
however,  threw  four  cutlasses  into  the  boat. 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  229 

Their  whole  stock  of  provisions  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pound  of  bread,  sixteen  pieces  of  pork,  six  quarts  of  rum, 
with  twenty-eight  gallons  of  water;  there  were  also  four  empty 
barrecoes  in  the  boat.  The  boatswain  had  been  allowed  to  col- 
lect a  small  quantity  of  twine,  some  canvas,  lines.,  and  cordage. 
Mr.  Samuel,  the  clerk,  had  been  also  permitted  to  take  a  quadrant 
and  compass;  but  he  was  forbidden  on  pain  of  death  to  touch 
either  chart,  ephemeris,  book  of  astronomical  observations,  sex- 
stant,  time-keeper,  or  any  of  the  surveys  or  drawings  which  Mr. 
Bligh  had  been  collecting  for  fifteen  years".  Mr.  Samuel  had  the 
good  fortune  to  secure  Mr.  Bligh's  journal  and  commission,  with 
some  other  material  ship  papers. 

At  the  time  the  boat  left  the  ship  they  were  about  ten  leagues 
from  Tosoa.  Mr.  Biigh's  first  determination  was  to  steer  for  this 
place,  to  seek  a  supply  of  bread-fruit  and  water,  from  thence  to 
proceed  to  Tongataboo,  and  there  to  solicit  the  king  to  surfer  him 
to  equip  the  boat,  and  grant  them  such  a  supply  of  water  and  pro- 
visions, as  might  enable  them  to  reach  the  East  Indies.  Arriving 
at  Tosoa,  they  found  the  natives  unfriendly  and  hostile;  and 
availing  themselves  of  the  defenceless  state  of  the  English,  at- 
tacked them  violently  with  stones,  so  that  the  supply  they  got 
here  was  very  scanty.  It  was  indeed  with  some  difficulty  they 
escaped  being  entirely  cut  off  by  the  natives;  which  most  probably 
would  have  been  the  case,  had  not  one  of  the  crew  (John  Norton) 
resolutely  jumped  on  shore  and  cast  off  the  stern-fast  of  the  boat; 
this  brave  fellow  fell  a  sacrifice  to  preserve  the  lives  of  his  com- 
panions; he  was  surrounded  and  inhumanly  murdered  by  these 
savages. 

The  reception  they  met  at  Tosoa,  gave  them  little  encourage- 
ment to  touch  at  Tongataboo;  as  it  was  evident  that  the  former 
good  behavior  of  these  people  proceeded  more  from  the  dread  of 
fire  arms,  than  a  natural  disposition  to  be  friendly. 

It  now  seemed  the  general  wish  of  all  in  the  boat,  that  Mr. 
Biigh  should  conduct  them  towards  home.  He  pointed  out  to 
th  Mn  that  no  hopes  of  relief  remained,  excepting  what  might  be 
found  at  New  Holland,  or  the  island  of  Timor,  which  was  at  the 
distance  of  full  one  thousand  and  two  hundred  leagues;  and  that 
it  would  require  the  greatest  economy  to  be  observed,  with  regard 
to  the  scantv  allowance  which  they  had  to  live  upon  for  so  long  a 
voyane.  It  was  therefore  agreed  by  the  whole  crew,  that  only  an 
ounce  of  bread,  and  a  quarter  of  a  pint  of  water  should  be  issued 
to  each  person  per  day.  After  Mr.  Bligh  had  recommended  to 
them  in  the  most  solemn  manner  not  to  depart  from  the  promise 
they  had  made;  he  on  the  2d  of  May  bore  away,  and  shaped  his 
course  for  New  Holland,  across  a  sea  little  explored,  in  a  boat 
only  twenty-three  feet  in  length,  six  feet  nine  inches  in  breadth, 
and  two  feet  nine  inches  deep,  with  eighteen  persons  on  board, 
and  heavy  laden.  The  next  day  they  encountered  a  violent 

20 


230  MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

storm,  the  boat  shipped  such  a  quantity  of  water,  that  it  was  by 
great  exertions  and  with  the  utmost  difficulty  she  could  be  kept 
afloat.  The  day  following  it  moderated.  On  the  oth,  they  saw 
and  passed  a  cluster  of  islands,  continuing  their  course  to  the 
north-west.  Hitherto  they  had  not  been  able  to  keep  any  other 
account  than  by  guess;  but  had  now  succeeded  in  getting  a  log- 
line  marked,  and  by  a  little  practice,  some  could  count  the  sec- 
onds with  a  tolerable  degree  of  exactness.  The  miserable  and 
confined  state  in  which  they  were,  induced  Mr.  Bligh  to  put  his 
crew  to  watch  and  watch,  so  that  one  half  might  be  on  the  look 
out,  while  the  others  lay  down  in  the  boat's  bottom,  or  upon  a 
chest;  even  this  gave  but  a  trifling  alleviation  to  their  sufferings; 
being  exposed  to  constant  wet  and  cold,  and  not  having  room  to 
stretch  their  limbs,  they  became  often  so  dreadfully  cramped,  as 
to  be  incapable  of  moving  them. 

On  the  7th,  another  group  of  islands  was  seen,  from  whence 
they  observed  two  large  canoes  in  pursuit  of  them,  one  of  which 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  had  arrived  within  two  miles  of 
the  boat,  when  she  gave  over  the  chase  and  returned  in  shore. 
Mr.  Bligh  imagined  from  their  direction  and  vicinity  to  the 
Friendly  Islands  these  must  have  been  the  Fegee  Islands. 

On  the  8th,  the  weather  was  moderate  and  fair,  which  gave 
them  an  opportunity  to  dry  their  clothes,  and  clean  out  the  boat. 
Mr.  Bligh  also  amused  the  people,  by  relating  to  them  a  descrip- 
tion of  New  Guinea  and  New  Holland,  with  every  information  in 
his  power,  that  in  case  any  accident  happened  to  him,  the  survi- 
vors might  be  able  to  pursue  their  course  to  Timor;  which  place 
they  before  knew  nothing  of  except  by  name. 

On  the  10th,  the  weather  again  began  to  be  extremely. boisterous, 
with  constant  rain  and  frequent  thunder  and  lightning;  the  sea 
was  so  rough,  as  often  to  break  over  the  boat;  so  that  they  were 
forever  baling,  and  often  in  imminent  danger  of  perishing;  in  ad- 
dition to  their  misfortunes,  the  bread  was  damaged  by  the  salt 
water;  their  clothes  never  being  dry,  they  derived  no  refreshment 
from  the  little  rest  they  sometimes  got;  and  many  were  so  be- 
numbed and  cramped  by  the  cold,  that  they  were  afflicted. with 
violent  shiverings  and  pains  in  the  bowels.  As  the  weather  still 
continued  tempestuous,  Mr.  Bligh,  as  an  expedient,  recommend- 
ed it  to  every  one  to  strip,  and  wring  their  clothes  in  the  salt- 
water, which  had  a  good  effect,  and  produced  a  warmth,  that 
while  wet  with  the  rain  they  could  not  have. 

On  the  14th  they  saw  a  number  of  islands,  which  appeared  to 
be  a  new  discovery,  but  as  they  lie  so  near  the  New  Hebrides, 
they  may  be  considered  as  a  part  of  that  group.  Their  latitude 
from  13  deg.  16  min.  to  14deg.  south,  longitude  110  deg.  67  min. 
17  min.  to  168  deg.  34  min.  east  from  Greenwich;  to  these  they 
gave  the  name  of  Bligh's  Islands. 

On  the  24th,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  reduce  their  already 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  231 

miserable  pittance;  it  was  accordingly  agreed  that  each  person 
should  receive  one  25th  part  of  a  pound  of  bread  for  breakfast, 
and  the  same  quantity  for  dinner;  so  that  by  omitting  the  allow- 
ance for  supper,  they  would  have  forty-three  days  provisions. 

The  next  day  they  saw  several  noddies  and  other  sea  fowl, 
some  of.  which  they  were  so  fortunate  as  to  catch,  and  served 
them  out  as  a  part  of  the  allowance.  The  sight  of  these  birds  in- 
dicated their  being  in  the  neighborhood  of  land.  The  weather 
was  now  more  serene;  but  even  this  became  distressing  to  them; 
the  heat  of  the  sun  was  so  intense,  that  many  of  the  people  were 
seized  with  a  langor  and  faintness,  which  made  life  indifferent. 
At  one  in  the  morning  on  the  29th,  breakers  were  Discovered 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant  under  their  lee;  they  immediate- 
ly hauled  off  and  were  soon  out  of  danger.  At  daylight,  they 
again  stood  in  and  discovered  the  reef,  over  which  the  sea  broke 
furiously.  Steering  along  the  edge  of  it,  an  opening  was  soon 
observed,  through  which  the  boat  passed;  a  small  island  which 
lay  within  the  reef  of  a  moderate  height,  Mr.  Bligh  named  Island 
of  Direction,  as  it  serves  to  show  the  entrance  of  the  channel; 
its  latitude  is  12  deg.  51  min.  south.  As  they  advanced  within  the 
reef,  the  coast  of  New  Holland  began  to  show  itself  distinctly. 
They  landed  in  a  fine  sandy  bay  on  an  island  near  the  main:  here 
they  found  plenty  of  oysters,  water,  and  berries,  which  to  men  in 
their  deplorable  condition,  were  looked  upon  as  luxuries.  After 
a  more  comfortable  repose  than  they  .had  experienced  for  many 
nights,  they  were  preparing  the  next  day  to  depart,  when  about 
twenty  natives  made  their  appearance  on  the  opposite  shore,  run- 
ning and  hallooing,  at  the  same  time  making  signs  to  land.  Each 
was  armed  with  a  spear  or  lance;  several  others  were  seen  peep- 
ing over  the  tops  of  the  adjacent  hills.  Mr.  Bligh  finding  that 
he  was  discovered,  judged  it  most  prudent  to  make  the  best  of  his 
way  to  sea.  He  named  the  island  on  which  they  landed  Restora- 
tion Island;  as  it  was  not  only  applicable  to  their  own  situation, 
but  the  anniversary  of  King  Charles's  Restoration  when  it  was 
discovered;  its  observed  latitude  12  deg.  39  min.  south. 

As  the  boat  sailed  along  the  shore,  many  other  parties  of  the 
natives  came  down,  waving  green  boughs  as  a  token  of  friendship; 
but  Mr.  Bligh,  suspicious  of  their  intentions,  would  not  venture 
to  land.  These  people  were  naked,  with  black  and  woolly  hair. 

On  the  31st  they  landed  on  a  small  island,  in  order  to  get  a 
distinct  view  of  the  coast;  from  thence,  after  making  a  lajparty 
meal  on  oysters,  they  again  put  to  sea,  steering  along  the  shore, 
often  touching  at  the  different  islands  and  keys  to  refresh  them- 
selves, and  get  such  supplies  as  they  afforded.  On  the  evening 
of  the  3d  of  June,  they  had  passed  through  Endeavour  Straits, 
and  were  once  more  launched  into  the  open  ocean,  shaping  their 
course  for  the  island  of  Timor,  which  they  were  encouraged  to 
expect  they  might  reach  in  eight  or  ten  days.  A  continuance  of 


232  MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

wet  and  tempestuous  weather,  affected  even  the  stoutest  among 
them  to  such  a  degree,  from  incessant  fatigue,  that  many  showed 
evident  signs  of  approaching  dissolution.  Mr.  Bligh  used  every 
effort  to  revive  their  drooping  spirits,  and  comforted  them  with  a 
hope  that  they  would  soon  arrive  at  a  port  where  their  distresses 
would  be  relieved. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  the  12th  of  June,  to  their 
inexpressible  joy,  the  island  of  Timor  was  discovered;  and  on  the/ 
14th  they  arrived  at  the  Dutch  settlement  of  Coupang.  Nothing 
could  exceed  the  friendly  and  hospitable  reception  they  met  with 
from  the  governor,  Mr.  Van  Este,  who  was  lying  almost  at  the 
point  of  death;  he  regretted  that  his  infirmity  should  prevent  him 
from  officiating  as  a  friend  himself,  but  assured  Mr.  Bligh  that  he 
would  give  such  orders,  as  should  procure  him  and  his  fellow  suf- 
ferers every  assistance  in  his  power;  he  accordingly  committed 
them  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Wanjen,  his  son-in-law,  who,  with  the 
other  principal  persons  of  Coupang,  rendered  their  situation  com- 
fortable during  the  time  they  staid  among  them. 

Mr.  Bligh  presented  the  governor  a  formal  account  of  the  loss 
of  the  Bounty;  and  a  requisition  in  his  Majesty's  name,  that  in- 
structions might  be  sent  to  all  the  Dutch  settlements,  to  stop  the 
ship  if  she  should  touch  at  any  of  them;  with  a  list  and  description 
of  the  mutineers. 

A  short  time  after  their  arrival  at  Coupang,  by  the  humane  and 
kind  attention  of  the  Dutch  inhabitants,  they  had  so  much  recovered 
their  health,  and  strength,  that  Mr.  Bligh  purchased  a  schooner 
for  one  thousand  rix  dollars,  to  convey  them  to  Batavia  before  the 
October  fleet  should  sail  for  Europe.  This  vessel  was  named  the 
Resource;  and  by  the  assistance  and  friendship  of  Mr.  Wanjen, 
(to  whose  liberal  and  hospitable  treatment  they  were  all  much  in- 
debted), Mr.  Bligh  was  able  to  procure  four  brass  swivels,  four- 
teen stand  of  arms,  and  some  ammunition,  which  was  necessary 
to  protect  them  against  the  pirates  who  infest  the  coast  of  Java. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  Mr.  David  Nelson,  the  botanist  died  of 
an  inflammatory  fever;  he  was  a  man  much  respected,  and  of  great 
scientific  knowledge.  This  was  his  second  voyage  to  the  South 
Seas  in  the  capacity  of  botanist. 

The  schooner  being  ready  for  sea,  on  the  30th  of  August  Mr. 
Bligh  and  his  crew  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  their  benefactors, 
and  sailed  from  Coupang,  with  the  launch  that  had  preserved 
theiivlives,  in  tow. 

On  the  1st  of  October  they  arrived  in  Batavia  road.  The  next 
day  Mr.  Bligh  was  taken  so  extremely  ill,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
be  moved  into  the  country.  Shortly  after  the  Dutch  surgeon- 
general  represented  to  him  that  his  complaint  was  of  such 
nature,  that  unless  he  quitted  the  air  of  Batavia,  it  might  prove 
fatal.  In  consequence  of  this,  Mr.  Bligh  applied  to  the  governor- 
general  for  permission  to  return  to  Europe  by  the  fleet  which 


MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY.  233 

was  on  the  point  of  sailing;  which  being  granted,  he  took  his 
passage  on  board  a  Dutch  packet,  and  sailed  from  Batavia  on  the 
16th  of  October,  1789;  the  governor  promising  him  that  the  re- 
mainder of  his  crew  should  be  sent  home  by  the  earliest  opportu- 
nity. On  the  14th  of  March,  1790,  he  arrived  in  England.  Out 
of  the  nineteen  who  were  in  the  boat  when  she  left  the  ship,  only 
twelve  lived  to  return  to  their  native  country. 

The  tide  of  public  applause  set  as  strongly  in  favor  of  Bligh, 
on  account  of  his  sufferings  and  the  successful  issue  of  his  daring 
enterprise,  as  its  indignation  was  launched  against  Christian  and 
his  associates,  for  the  audacious  and  criminal  deed  they  had  com- 
mitted. Bligh  was  promoted  by  the  Admiralty  to  the  rank  of 
commander,  and  speedily  sent  out  a  second  time  to  transport  the 
bread-fruit  to  the  West  Indies,  which  he  without  the  least  obstruc- 
tion, successfully  accomplished;  and  his  majesty's  government  was 
no  sooner  made  acquainted  with  the  atrocious  act  of  piracy  and 
mutiny,  than  it  determined  to  adopt  every  possible  means  to  ap- 
prehend and  bring  to  condign  punishment  the  perpetrators  of  so 
foul  a  deed.  For  this  purpose,  the  Pandora  frigate  of  twenty- 
four  guns,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  was  despatched,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Edward  Edwards,  with  orders  to  proceed 
in  the  first  instance  to  Otaheite,  and,  not  finding  the  mutineers 
there,  to  visit  the  different  groups  of  the  Society  and  Friendly 
Islands,  and  others  in  the  neighboring  parts  of  the  Pacific, 
using  his  best  endeavors  to  seize  and  bring  home  in  confinement 
the  whole  or  such  part  of  the  delinquents  as  he  might  be  able  to 
discover. 

This  voyage  was  in  the  sequel  almost  as  disastrous  as  that  of 
the  Bounty,  but  from  a  different  cause.  The  waste  of  human  life 
was  much  greater,  occasioned  by  the  wreck  of  the  ship,  in  return- 
ing; and  the  distress  experienced  by  the  crew  was  not  much  less, 
owing  to  the  famine  and  thirst  they  had  to  suffer  in  a  navigation 
of  eleven  hundred  miles  in  open  boats;  but  the  captain  succeeded 
in  fulfilling  a  part  of  his  instructions,  by  taking  fourteen  of  the 
mutineers,  of  whom  ten  were  brought  safe  to  England,  the  other 
four  being  drowned  when  the  ship  was  wrecked.  Soon  after  their 
arrival,  a  court-martial  assembled  to  try  the  prisoners,  on  board 
his  majesty's  ship  Duke,  on  the  12th  September,  1792.  Against 
seven  of  the  ten  the  charges  of  mutiny  were  proved,  and  they  were 
adjudged  worthy  of  death;  two  of  them,  however,  Peter  Hey- 
wood  and  Jarnes  Morrison  were  earnestly  recommended  by  the 
court  to  his  majesty's  mercy,  and  they  were  pardoned  according- 
ly. Hey  wood,  who  at  the  time  of  the  mutiny  was  but  sixteen 
years  of  age,  was  very  honorably  and  fully  acquitted  in  public 
opinion  of  any  participation  in  the  deed,  and  he  afterwards  rose 
to  distinction,  without  any  invidious  suspicion  being  attached  to 
him.  He  died  in  the  year  1831,  leaving  behind  him  a  high  and 
unblenfished  character  in  that  service  of  which  he  was  a  most 

20* 


234  MUTINY    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

honorable,  intelligent,  and  distinguished  member.    The  remaining 
five  of  the  convicts  were  hung  pursuant  to  sentence. 

Twenty  years  had  passed  away,  and  the  Bounty,  and  Fletcher 
Christian,  and  the  piratical  crew  that  he  had  carried  off  with  him 
in  that  ship,  had  long  ceased  to  occupy  a  thought  in  the  public 
mind.  It  happened  however,  that  an  accidental  discovery,  as  in- 
teresting as  it  was  wholly  unexpected,  was  brought  to  light  in  con- 
sequence of  an  American  trading  vessel  having,  by  mere  chance, 
approached  one  of  those  numerous  islands  in  the  Pacific,  against 
whose  steep  and  iron-bound  shore  the  surf  almost  everlastingly 
rolls  with  such  tremendous  violence  as  to  bid  defiance  to  any  at- 
tempts of  boats  to  land,  except  at  particular  times  and  in  very  few 
place's. 

Captain  Folger,  of  the  American  brig  Topaz,  of  Boston,  in 
September,  1808,  landed  on  Pitcairn's  Island  in  latitude  25°  2' 
south,  longitude  130°  west,  where  he  found  an  Englishman,  of 
the  name  of  Alexander  Smith,  the  only  person  remaining  of  nine 
that  had  escaped  in  the  Bounty.  Smith  related  that,  after  put- 
ting Captain  Bligh  in  the  boat,  Christian  took  command  of  the 
ship  and  went  to  Otaheite,  where  many  of  the  crew  left  her,  ex- 
cept Christian,  Smith,  and  seven  others,  who  each  took  wives, 
and  six  Otaheitan  men-servants,  and  shortly  after  arrived  at  Pit- 
cairn's  Island,  where  they  ran  the  ship  ashore  and  broke  her  up; 
this  event  took  place  in  the  year  1790. 

About  four  years  after  their  arrival  (a  great  jealousy  existing), 
the  Otaheitans  secretly  revolted,  and  killed  every  Englishman 
except  Smith,  whom  they  severely  wounded  in  the  neck  with  a 
pistol  ball.  The  same  night,  the  widows  of  the  deceased  Eng- 
lishmen arose  and  put  to  death  the  whole  of  the  Otaheitans, 
leaving  Smith  the  only  man  alive  upon  the  island,  with  eight  or 
nine  women  and  several  small  children.  On  his  recovery,  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  tilling  the  ground,  so  that  it  now  produced  plenty 
of  yams,  cocoa-nuts,  bananas  and  plantains;  hogs  and  poultry  in 
abundance.  There  were  some  grown-up  men  and  women,  chil- 
dren of  the  mutineers,  on  the  island,  the  whole  population  amount- 
i  ; ;.:  to  about  thirty-five,  who  acknowledged  Smith  as  father  and 
commander  of  them  all;  they  all  spoke  English,  and  had  been 
educated  by  him  in  a  moral  and  religious  way. 

It  was  asserted  by_the  second  mate  of  the  Topaz,  that  Chris- 
tian, the  ringleader  became  insane  shortly  after  taking  up  his 
abode  on  the  island,  and  threw  himself  off  the  rocks  into  the  sea. 
It  is  clear  enough  that  this  misguided  and  ill-fated  young  man 
was  never  happy  after  the  rash  and  criminal  step  he  had  taken. 
He  was  always  sullen  and  morose,  and  committed  so  many  acts 
of  wanton  oppression  as  very  soon  incurred  the  hatred  of  his 
companions.  According  to  the  account  of  Smith,  or  as  he  was 
usually  called,  John  Adams,  the  cause  of  Christian's  death  was 


THE   SHETLAND    ISLES.  235 

his  having  forcibly  seized  on  the  wife  of  one  of  the  Otaheite  men, 
which  so  exasperated  the  rest  that  they  not  only  sought  the  life 
of  the  offender,  but  of  others  also  who  might,  as  they  thought,  be 
disposed  to  pursue  the  same  course.  The  manner  of  Christian's 
death  still  remains  uncertain;  certain  it  is,  that  however  far  he 
might  escape  from  the  reach  of  justice  there  was  no  escaping  from 

"  Those  rods  of  scorpians  and  those  whips  of  steel 
Which  conscience  shakes." 

Pitcairn's  Island  was  visited  in  1814  by  his  majesty's  frigates, 
the  Briton  and  the  Tagus,  by  which  the  account  of  Captain  Fol- 
ger  was  confirmed.  From  the  time  of  this  visit  nothing  more 
was  heard  of  Adams  and  his  family  for  nearly  twelve  years,  when, 
in  182-3,  Captain  Beechey,  in  the  Blossom,  bound  on  a  voyage  of 
discovery,  touched  at  Pitcairn's  Island.  He  found  the  descend- 
ants of  the  mutineers  increased  to  sixty-six;  the  females  were 
modest,  handsome  and  pleasing,  and  the  males  added  a  wonderful 
degree  of  strength  and  agility  to  a  beautiful  symmetry  of  form. 
Adams  had  introduced  into  his  little  society,  the  most  salutary 
laws  and  regulations,  which  he  had  drawn  from  the  bible,  and 
seemed  desirous  to  atone  for  his  past  misconduct  by  training  up 
the  rising  generation  in  piety  and  virtue.  The  death  of  this  old 
patriarch  took  place  in  March,  1829,  and  he  was  sincerely 
lamented  by  the  infant  colony.  It  has  recently  been  stated  in  the 
newspapers,  that  owing  to  a  deficiency  of  water  at  Pitcairn's 
Island,  the  descendants  of  the  mutineers  had  all  emigrated  to 
Otaheite:  but  there  being  disgusted  with  the  dissolute  arid  im- 
moral behavior  of  the  islanders,  they  had  returned  to  the  place 
of  their  birth  to  escape  the  contamination  of  vice  and  intempe- 
rance. 


"  THE    SHETLAND    ISLES. 

These  islands  lie  about  fifteen  leagues  north-east  of  the  Ork 
neys,  between  the  fifty-ninth  and  sixty-first  degrees  of  north  lati 
tude.     They  are  about  eighty-six  in  number,  of  which  forty  are 
inhabited,  and  the  others  are  small  holms  or  rocky  islets,  used  only 
for  pasturage.     The  small  islands  of  Foula  and  Fair  Isle  lie  in  the 
strait  between  the  clusters  of  Orkney  and  Shetland.     The  climate 
of  these  islands  cannot  be  said  to  be  agreeable.     The  weather  is 
wet  and  variable,  though  not  injurious  to  the  health  of  those  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  it. 

Great  numbers  of  horses  are  bred  in  Shetland,  though  they  are 
of  very  small  size,  the  ordinary  height  being  from  nine  to  ten 
hands,  whilst  the  largest  do  not  exceed  eleven  hands.  The  inhab- 


236 


THE    SHETLAND     ISLES. 


itants  are  a  hardy,  robust 'and  laborious  race,  and  hospitable  to 
strangers.  They  have  few  manufactures,  but  export  great  quanti- 
ties of  stockings  wrought  upon  wires,  manufactured  from  the  wool 
of  their  own  sheep. 

..The  isles  afford  abundance  of  sea-fowl,  which  serve  the  inhab- 
itants for  part  of  their  food,  while  the  down  and  feathers  are  a 
source  of  considerable  profit  to  them.  The  several  tribes  of  fowl 
here  build  arid  hatch  apart.  Some  of  the  lesser  isles  are  so  crowd- 
ed with  variety  of  sea-fowl,  that  they  darken  the  air  when  they  fly, 
in  great  numbers.  The  people  inhabiting  the  lesser  isles  have 
plenty  of  eggs,  and  fowl,  which  contribute  to  maintain  their  fami- 
lies during  the  summer.  The  common  people  are  generally  very 
dexterous  in  climbing  the  rocks  in  quest  of  the  eggs  and  fowl; 
but  this  exercise  is  attended  with  great  danger,  and  sometimes 
proves  fatal  to  those  who  venture  too  far.  The  most  remarkable 
experiment  of  this  sort  is  at  the  isle  called  the  Noss  of  Brassah 
and  is  as  follows: 


Bird  Catching. 

The  Noss  being  about  sixteen  fathom  distant  from  the  side  of 
the  opposite  main;  the  higher  and  lower  rocks  have  two  stakes 
fastened  in  each  of  them,  and  to  these  there  are  ropes  tied:  upon 
the  ropes  is  hung  an  engine  which  they  call  a  cradle;  and  in  this 
a  man  makes  his  way  over  from  the  greater  to  the  lesser  rock, 
where  he  takes  a  considerable  quantity  of  eggs  and  fowl;  but  his 
return  being  by  an  ascent,  makes  it  more  dangerous,  though  those 
on  the  great  rock  have  a  rope  tied  to  the  cradle,  by  which  they 
draw  it  and  the  man  safe  over  for  the  most  part. 

There  are  some  rocks  here  computed  to  be  about  three  hundred 


A    SEA    BALLAD.  237 

fathoms  high ;  and  the  way  of  climbftig  them  is,  to  tie  a  rope 
about  a  man's  middle  and  let  him  dofrn  with  a  basket,  in  which 
he  brings  up  his  eggs  and  fowl.  The  isle  of  Foula  is  the  most 
dangerous  and  fatal  to  the  climbers,  for  many  of  them  perish  in  the 
attempt. 


A  SEA-BALLAD. 

A  jolly  comrade  in  the  port,  a  fearless  mate  at  sea  ; 
When  1  forget  thee,  to  my  hand  false  may  the  cutlass  be  ! 
And  may  my  gallant  battle-flag  be  stricken  down  in  shame, 
If,  when  the  social  can  goes  round,  I  fail  to  pledge  thy  name  ! 
Up,  up,  my  lads  !  his  memory  !  we'll  give  it  with  a  cheer — 
Ned  Bolton,  the  commander  of  the  Black  Snake  privateer  ! 

Poor  Ned  !  he  had  a  heart  of  steel,  with  neither  flaw  nor  speck : 
Firm  as  a  rock,  in  strife  or  storm,  he  stood  the  quarter-deck  ; 
He  was.  I  trow,  a  welcome  man  to  many  an  Indian  dame, 
And  Spanish  planters  crossed  themselves  at  whisper  of  his  name; 
But  now,  .Jamaica  girls  may  weep — rich  Dons  securely  smile — 
His  bark  will  take  no  prize  again,  nor  e'er  touch  Indian  isle  ! 

'S  blood  !  'twas  a  sorry  fate  he  met  on  his  own  mother  wave — 

The  foe  far  off,  the  storm  asleep,  and  yet  to  find  a  grave! 

With  store  of  the  Peruvian  gold,  and  spirit  of  the  cane, 

No  need  would  he  have  had  to  cruise  in  tropic  climes  again : 

But  some  are  born  to  sink  at  sea,  and  some  to  hang  on  shore, 

And  Fortune  cried,  God  speed  !  at  last,  and  welcomed  Ned  no  more. 

T\vas  off  the  coast  of  Mexico — the  tale  is  bitter  brief — 

The  Black  Snake,  under  press  of  sail,  stuck  fast  upon  a  reef — 

Upon  a  cutting  coral-reef,  scarce  a  good  league  from  land, 

But  hundreds,  both  of  horse  and  foot,  were  ranged  upon  the  strand  ; 

His  boats  were  lost  before  Cape  Horn,  and,  with  an  old  canoe, 

Even  had  he  numbered  ten  for  one,  what  could  Ned  Bolton  do  ? 

Six  days  and  nights  the  vessel  lay  upon  the  coral-reef, 

Nor  favoring  gale,  nor  friendly  flag  brought  prospect  of  relief ; 

For  a  land  breeze,  the  wild  one  prayed,  who  never  prayed  before, 

And  when  it  came  not  at  his  call,  he  bit  his  lip  and  swore. 

The  Spaniards  shouted  from  the  beach,  but  did  not  venture  near, 

Too  well  they  knew  the  mettle  of  the  daring  privateer ! 

A  calm  !  a  calm  !  a  hopeless  calm  !  the  red  sun  burning  high, 

Glared  blisteringly  and  wearily  in  a  transparent  sky  ; 

The  grog  went  round  the  gasping  crew,  and  loudly  rose  the  song, 

The  only  pastime  at  an  hour  when  rest  seemed  far  too  long. 

So  boisterously  they  took  their  rouse  upon  the  crowded  deck — 

They  looked  like  men  wh  >  had  escaped,  not  feared,  a  sudden  wreck 

* 

Up  sprung  the  breeze  the  seventh  day — away  !  away  !  to  sea 
Drifted  the  bark,  with  riven  planks,  over  the  waters  free  ; 
Their  battle-flag  these  rovers  bold  then  hoisted  topmast  high, 
And  to  the  swarthy  foe  sent  back  a  fierce  defying  cry. 


238  DANGERS    OF    A    NOVA    SCOTIA    FOG. 

"  One  last  broadside  !"  Ned  Bolton  cried — deep  boomed  the  cannon's  roar, 
And  echo's  hollow  growl  returned  an  answer  from  the  shore. 

The  thundering  gun,  the  broken  song,  the  mad,  tumultuous  cheer 

Ceased  not,  so  long  as  ocean  spared  the  shattered  privateer. 

I  saw  her — I — she  shot  by  me,  like  lightning,  in  the  gale, 

We  strove ^,0  save,  we  tacked,  and  fast  we  slackened  all  our  sail — 

I  knew  the  wave  of  Ned's  right  hand — farewell !  you  strive  in  vain  ! 

And  he,  nor  one  of  his  ship's  crew,  e'er  entered  port  again  ! 


DANGERS  OF  A  NOVA  SCOTIA  FOG. 

BY    CAPTAIN    HALL. 

There  are  few  things  more  provoking  than  the  fogs  off  Halifax; 
for,  as  they  happen  to  be  companions  of  that  very  wind,  the  south- 
east, which  is  the  best  for  running  in,  the  navigator  is  plagued 
with  the  tormenting  conciousness,  that  if  he  could  be  allowed  but 
a  couple  of  hours  of  clear  weather,  his  port  would  be  gained,  and 
his  troubles  over.  The  clearing  up,  therefore,  of  these  odious 
clouds  or  veils  is  about  the  most  delightful  thing  I  know;  and  the 
instantaneous  effect  which  a  clear  sight  of  the  land,  or  even  of  the 
sharp  horizon,  when  far  at  sea,  has  on  the  mind  of  every  person 
on  board,  is  quite  remarkable.  All  things  look  bright,  fresh,  and 
more  beautiful  than  ever.  The  stir  over  the  whole  ship  at  these 
moments  is  so  great  that  even  persons  sitting  below  can  tell  at 
once  that  the  fog  has  cleared  away.  The  rapid  clatter  of  the 
men's  feet,  springing  up  the  hatchways  at  the  lively  sound  of  the 
boatswains  call  to  "make  sail!"  soon  follows.  Then  comes  the 
cheerful  voice  of  the  officer,  hailing  the  topmen  to  shake  out  the 
reefs,  trice  up  the  stay  sails,  and  rig  out  the  booms.  That  pecu- 
liar and  well  known  kind  of  echo,  also,  by  which  the  sound  of  the 
voice  is  thrown  back  from  the  wet  sails,  contributes  in  like  man- 
ner, to  produce  a  joyous  elasticity  of  spirits,  greater,  I  think  than 
is  excited  by  most  of  the  ordinary  occurrences  of  a  sea  life. 

A  yearr  or. two  after  the  time  I  am  speaking  of,  it  was  re- 
solved to  place  a  heavy  gun  upon  the  rock  on  which  Sambro  light- 
house is  built;  and,  after  agood  deal  of  trouble,  a  Jang  twenty-four 
pounder  was  hoisted  up  to  the  highest  ri^ge"*of  this*  prominent  sta- 
tion. It  was  then  arranged  that,  if,  on  the  arrival  of  any  ship  off 
the  harbor,  in  a  period  of  fog,  she  chose  to  fire  guns,  these  were 
to  be  answered  from  the  light-house,  and  in  this  way  a  kind  of 
audible  though  invisible  telegraph  might  be  set  to  work.  If  it 
happened  that  the  officers  of  the  ship  were  sufficiently  farnUiar 
with  the  ground,  and  possessed  nerves  stout  enough  for  such  a  grop- 
ing kind  of  navagation,  perilous  at  best,  it  was  possible  to  run 


DANGERS    OF    A    NOVA    SCOTIA    FOG.  239 

fairly  into  the  harbor,  notwithstanding  the  obscurity,  by  watching 
the  sound  of  these  guns,  and  attending  closely  to  the  depth  of 
watf?r.  / 

J  never  was  in  any  ship  which  ventured  upon  this  feat,  but  I 
perfectly  recollect  a  curious  circumstance,  which  occured,  I  think, 
to  his  majesty's  ship  Cambrian.  She  had  run  in  from  sea  towards 
the  coast,  enveloped  in  one  of  these  dense  fogs.  Of  course  they 
took  for  granted  that  the  light-house  and  the  adjacent  land  Hal- 
afax  included  were  likewise  covered  with  an  impenetrable  cloud 
or  mist.  But  it  so  chanced,  by  what  freak  of  Dame  Nature,  I 
know  not,  that  the  fog,  on  that  day,  was  confined  to  the  deep 
water,  so  that  we  who  were  in  the  port,  could  see  it  at  the  distance 
of  several  miles  from  the  coast  lying  on  the  ocean  like  a  huge 
stratum  of  snow,  with  an  abrupt  face  fronting  the  shore.  The 
Cambrian,  lost  in  the  midst  of  this  fog  bank,  supposing  herself  to 
be  near  the  land,  fired  a  gun.  To  this  the  light-house  replied; 
and  so  the  ship  and  the  light  went  on  pelting  away,  gun  for  gun, 
during  half  the  day  without  ever  seeing  one  another.  The  people 
at  the  light-house  had  no  means  of  communicating  to  the  frigate 
that,  if  she  could  only  stand  on  a  little  further,  she  would  disen- 
tangle herself  from  the  cloud,  in  which,  like  Jupiter  Olympus  of 
old  she  was  wasting  her  thunder. 

At  last  the  captain,  hopeless  of  its  clearing  up,  gave  orders  to 
pipe  to  dinner;  but  as  the  weather,  in  all  respects  except  this  abom- 
inable haze,  was  quite  fine,  and  the  ship  was  still  in  deep  water, 
he  directed  her  to  be  steered  towards  the  shore,  and  the  lead  kept 
constantly  going.  As  one  o'clock  approached,  he  began  to  feel 
uneasy,  from  the  water  shoaling,  and  the  light-house  guns  sound- 
ing closer  and  closer;  but,  being  unwilling  to  disturb  the  men  at 
dinner,  he  resolved  to  stand  on  for  the  remaining  ten  minutes  of 
the  hour.  Lo  and  behold!  however,  they  had  not  sailed  half  a 
mile  further  before  the  flying-jib-boom  end  emerged  from  the  wall 
of  mist — then  the  bowsprit  shot  into  day  light — and,  lastly  the  ship 
herself,  glided  out  of  the  cloud  into  the  full  blaze  of  a  bright  and 
"  sunshine  holy  day."  All  hands  were  instantly  turned  up  to 
make  sail;  and  the  men,  as  they  flew  on  deck,  could  scarcely 
believe  their  senses,  when  they  saw  behind  them  the  fog  bank,  and 
right  ahea'd  the  harbor's  mouth,  with  the  bold  cliffs  of  Cape  Sam- 
bro  on  the  left,  arid,  farther  still,  the  ships  at  their  moorings,  with 
their  ensign  and  pendants  blowing  out,  light  and  dry  in  the 
breeze. 

A  far  different  fate,  alas!  attended  his  Majesty's  ship  Atalante, 
Captain  Frederic  Hickey.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  No- 
vember, 1813,  this  ship  stood  in  for  Halifax  harbor  in  very  thick 
weather,  carefully  feeling  her  way  with  the  lead,  and  having 
look-out  men  at  the  jib-boom-end,  fore-yard-arms,  and  every  where 
else  from  which  a  glimpse  of  land  was  likely  to  be  obtained.  Af- 
ter breakfast  a  fog  signal  gun  was  fired,  in  expectation  of  its  being 


240  DANGERS    OF    A    NOVA    SCOTIA    FOG. 

answered  by  the  light-house  on  Cape  Sambro,  near  which  it  was 
known  they  must  be.  Within  a  few  minutes,  accordingly,  a  gun 
was  heard  in  the  north-north-west  quarter,  exactly  where  the  light 
was  supposed  to  lie.  As  the  soundings  agreed  with  the  estimated 
position  of  the  ship,  and  as  the  guns  from  the  Atalante,  lired  at 
intervals  of  fifteen  minutes,  were  regularly  answered  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  harbor's  mouth,  it  was  determined  to  stand  on  so  as  to 
enter  the  port  under  the  guidance  of  these  sounds  alone.  By  a 
fatal  coincidence  of  circumstances,  however,  these  answering  guns 
were  fired  not  by  Cape  Sambro,  but  by  his  Majesty's  ship  Bar- 
rossa,  which  was  likewise  entangled  by  the  fog.  She,  too,  suppos- 
ed that  she  was  communicating  with  the  light-house,  whereas  it 
was  the  guns  of  the  unfortunate  Atalante  that  she  heard  all  the 
time. 

There  was  certainly  no  inconsiderable  risk  incurred  by  running 
in  for  the  harbor's  mouth  under  such  circumstances.  But  it  will 
often  happen  that  it  becomes  the  officer's  duty  to  put  his  ship  as 
well  as  his  life  in  hazard;  and  this  appears  to  have  been  exactly 
one  of  those  cases.  Captain  Hickey  was  charged  with  urgent 
despatches  relative  to  the  enemy's  fleet,  which  it  was  of  the  great- 
est importance  should  be  delivered  without  an  hour's  delay.  But 
there  was  every  appearance  of  this  fog  lasting  a  week;  and  as  he 
and  his  officers  had  passed  over  the  ground  a  hundred  times  before, 
and  were  as  intimately  acquainted  with  the  spot  as  any  pilot  could 
be,  it  was  resolved  to  try  the  bold  experiment;  and  the  ship  was 
forthwith  steered  in  the  supposed  direction  of  Halifax. 

They  had  not,  however,  stood  on  far,  before  one  of  the  lookout 
men  exclaimed,  "  breakers  ahead !  Hard  a-starboard!"  But  it  was 
too  late,  for,  before  the  helm  could  be  put  over,  the  ship  was 
amongst  those  formidable  reefs  known  by  the  name  of  the  sisters' 
rocks,  or  eastern  ledge  of  Sambro  Island.  The  rudder  and  half 
of  the  sternpost,  together  with  the  greater  part  of  the  false  keel, 
were  driven  off  by  the  first  blow  and  floated  up  along  side.  There 
is  some  reason  to  believe,  indeed,  that  a  portion  of  the  bottom  of 
the  ship,  loaded  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  iron  ballast, 
were  torn  from  the  upper  works  by  this  fearful  blow,  and  that  the 
ship,  which  instantly  filled  with  water,  was  afterwards  buoyed  up 
merely  by  the  empty  casks,  till  the  decks  and  sides  burst  through 
or  were  riven  asunder  by  the  waves. 

The  captain  who,  throughout  the  whole  scene,  continued  as  com- 
posed as  if  nothing  remarkable  had  occurred,  now  ordered  the 
guns  to  be  thrown  overboard,  but  before  one  of  them  could  be 
cast  loose,  or  a  breaching  cut,  the  ship  fell  over  so  much  that  the 
men  could  not  stand.  It  was,  therefore,  with  great  difficulty  that 
a  few  guns  were  fired  as  signals  of  distress.  In  the  same  breath 
that  this  order  was  given,  Captain  Hickey  desired  the  yard  tackles 
to  be  hooked,  in  order  that  the  pinnace  might  be  hoisted  out; 
but  as  the  masts,  deprived  of  their  foundation,  were  tottering  from 


DANGERS    OF    A    VOVA    SCOTIA    FOG.  24* 

side  to  side,  the   people   were   called  down  again.     Th ^    ruarter 
boats  were  then  lowered  into  the  water  with   some   difficulty,  but 
|  the  jolly  boat,   which  happened  to  be  on  the  poop  undergoing  re- 
pairs, in  being  launched  overboard,  struck  against  one  of  the  stern 
j  davits,  bilged,  and  wentjdown.     The  ship  was  now  falling  fast  over 
I  on  her  beam  ends,  and  directions  were  given  to  cut  away  her  fore 
[  and  main  mast.    Fortunately,  they  fell  without  injuring  the  large 
b •  -at  on  the  booms — their  grand  hope.    At  the  instant  of  this  crash, 
the  ship  parted  in  two  between  the  main  and  mizen-masts;  and, 
within  a  few  seconds  afterwards,  she  again  broke  right  across,  be- 
tween the  fore  and  main-masts:  so  that  the  poor  Atalante  now  form- 
ed a  mere  wreck,  divided  into  three  pieces,  crumbling  into  smaller 
fragments  at  every  send  of  the  swell. 

By  this  time  a  considerable  crowd  of  men  had  got  into  the  pin- 
nace on  the  booms  in  hopes  that  she  might  float  off  as  the  ship 
sunk;  but  Captain  Hickey,  seeing  that  the  boat  was  so  loaded 
that  she  could  never  swim,  desired  some  twenty  men  to  quit  her; 
and,  what  is  particularly  worthy  of  remark,  his  orders,  which  were 
given  with  perfect  coolness,  were  as  promptly  obeyed  as  ever. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  these  trying  moments,  indeed,  the  disci- 
pline of  the  ship  appears  to  have  been  maintained  not  only  without 
the  smallest  trace  of  insubordination  but  with  a  degree  of  cheer- 
fulness which  is  described  as  truly  wonderful.  Even  when  the 
masts  fell,  the  sound  of  the  crashing  spars  were  drowned  in  the 
animating  huzzars  of  the  undaunted  crew,  though  they  were  then 
clinging  to  the  weather  gunwale,  with  the  sea,  from  time  to  time, 
making  a  clean  breach  over  them,  and  when  they  were  expecting 
every  instant  to  be  carried  to  the  bottom! 

As  soon  as  the  pinnace  was  relieved  from  the  pressure  of  the 
crowd,  she  floated  off  the  booms  or  rather  was  knocked  off*  by  a 
sea,  which  turned  her  bottom  upwards,  and  whelmed  her  into 
the  surf  amidst  the  fragments  of  the  wreck.  The  people  however, 
imitating  the  gallant  bearing  of  their  captain,  and  keeping  their 
eyes  fixed  upon  him,  never  for  one  instant  lost  their  self  possession. 
By  dint  of  great  exertions,  they  succeeded  not  only  in  righting 
the  boat  but  disentangled  her  from  the  confused  heap  of  spars, 
and  the  dash  of  the  breakers,  so  as  to  place  her  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  wreck  where  they  waited  for  further  orders  from  the 
captain,  who  with  about  forty  men,  still  clung  to  the  poor  remains 
of  the  gay  Atalante  once  so  much  admired! 

An  attempt  was  next  made  to  construct  a  raft,  as  it  was  feared 
the  three  boats  could  not  possibly  carry  all  hands;  but  the 
violence  of  the  waves  prevented  this,  and  it  was  resolved  to  trust 
to  the  boats  alone,  though  they  were  already  to  all  appearance 
quite  full.  It  was  now,  however  absolutely  necessary  to  take  to 
them,  as  the  wreck  was  disappearing  rapidly;  and  in  order  to 
pack  close,  most  of  the  men  were  removed  to  the  pinnace,  where 
they  laid  flat  in  the  bottom,  like  herrings  in  a  barrel,  while  the  smaD 

21 


242  DA!S7GERS    OF    A   NOVA    SCOTIA    FOG. 

boats  returned  to  pick  off  the  rest.  This  was  no  easy  matter  in 
any  case,  while  it  was  impossible  in  others;  so  that  many 
men  had  to  swim  for  it;  others  were  dragged  through  the  waves 
by  ropes,  and  some  were  forked  off  by  oars  and  other  small 
spars. 

Amongst  the  crew  there  was  one  famous  merry  fellow,  a  black 
fiddler,  who  was  discovered  at  this  critical  juncture  clinging  to  the 
main  chains  with  his  beloved  Cremona  squeezed  tightly  but  deli- 
cately under  his  arm — a  ludicrous  picture  of  distress,  arid  a  subject 
of  some  joking  amongst  the  men  even  at  this  moment.  It  soon  be- 
came absolutely  necessary  that  he  should  lose  one  of  the  two  things 
his  fiddle  or  his  life.  So,  at  last,  after  a  painful  struggle,  the  pro- 
fessor and  his  violin  were  obliged  to  part  company! 

The  pinnace  now  contained  seventy-nine  men  and  one  woman, 
the  cutter  forty-two  and  the  gig  eighteen,  with  which  cargoes  they 
barely  floated.  Captain  Hickey  was,  of  course,  the  last  man  who 
left  the  wreck;  though  such  was  the  respect  and  affection  felt  for 
him  by  his  crew,  that  those  who  stood  along  with  him  on  this  last 
vestage  of  the  ship,  evinced  the  greatest  reluctance  at  leaving  their 
commander  in  such  a  perilous  predicament.  So  speedy  indeed 
was  the  work  of  destruction,  that  by  the  time  the  Captain  was 
fairly  in  the  boat,  the  wreck  had  almost  entirely  '  melted  into  the 
yest  of  waves.'  The  crew,  however,  gave  her  three  hearty  cheers 
as  she  went  down-,  and  then  finally  abandoned  the  scattered  frag- 
ments, of  what  had  been  their  house  and  home  for  nearly  seven 
years. 

The  fog  still  continued  as  thick  as  ever;  the  binacles  had 
both  been  washed  overboard,  and  no  compass  could  be  procured. 
As  the  wind  was  still  light,  there  was  great  difficulty  in  steering 
in  a  straight  line.  Had  there  been  a  breeze,  it  would  perhaps 
have  been  easier  to  have  shaped  a  course.  In  this  dilemma  a  re- 
source was  hit  upon,  which  for  a  time  answered  pretty  well  to 
guide  them.  It  being  known  loosely,  before  leaving  the  wreck, 
in  what  direction  the  land  was  situated,  the  three  boats  were  placed 
in  a  row  pointing  that  way.  The  sternmost  boat  then  quitted  her 
"station  in  the  rear,  and  pulled  ahead  till  she  came  in  a  line  with 
the  other  two  boats,  but  took  care  not  to  go  so  far  as  to  be  lost  in 
the  fog;  the  boat  which  was  now  astern  then  rowed  ahead,  as  the 
first  had  clone,  and  so  on  doubling  along  one  after  the  other.  This 
tardy  method  of  proceeding  however  answered  only  for  a  time; 
at  length  they  were  completely  at  loss  which  way  to  steer.  Precise- 
ly at  this  moment  of  greatest  need,  an  old  quarter-master,  Samuel 
Shanks  by  name,  recollected  that  at  the  end  of  his  watch  chain 
there  hung  a  small  compass  seal.  This  precious  discovery  was 
announced  to  the  other  boats  by  a  joyous  shout  from  the  pinnace. 

The  compass  being  speedily  handed  into  the  gig,  to  the  captain, 
was  placed  on  top  of  the  chronometer,  which  had  been  nobly  saved 
by  the  clerk;  and  as  this  instrument  worked  on  jimbles,  the  little 


THE    EDDYSTONE    LIGHT-HOUSE.  243 

needle  remained  upon  it  sufficiently  steady  for  steering  the  boats 
within  a  few  points. 

This  was  enough  to  insure  hitting  land,  from  which  they  had 
been  steering  quite  wide.  Before  reaching  the  shore,  they  fell  in 
with  an  old  fisherman,  who  piloted  them  to  a  light,  called  Portu- 
guese Cove,  where  they  all  landed  in  safety,  at  a  distance  of 
twenty  miles  from  Halifax. 


-   THE  EDDYSTONE  LIGHT-HOUSE. 

This  most  celebrated  light-house  is  built  on  the  Eddystone 
rocks.  These  are  situate  nearly  south-south-\vest  from  the  mid- 
dle of  Plymouth  sound,  England,  according  to  the  true  meridian. 
The  distance  from  the  port  of  Plymouth  is  nearly  fourteen  miles; 
and  from  the  promontory  called  Ramhead,  about  ten  miles.  They 
are  almost  in  the  line,  but  somewhat  within  it,  which  joins  the 
Start  and  the  Lizard  points;  and  as  they  lie  nearly  in  the  direction 
of  vessels  coasting  up  and  down  the  channel,  they  were  necessari- 
ly, before  the  establishment  of  light-houses,  very  dangerous,  and 
often  fatal  to  ships  under  such  circumstances.  Their  situation, 
likewise,  with  regard  to  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
is  such,  that  they  lie  open  to  the  swells  of  the  bay  and  ocean  from 
all  south-western  points  of  the  compass,  which  swells  are  generally 
allowed  by  mariners  to  be  very  great  and  heavy  in  those  seas,  and 
particularly  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the 
soundings  of  the  sea  from  the  south-westward,  toward  the  Eddy- 
stone,  are  from  eighty  fathoms  to  forty,  and  every  where  till  you 
come  near  the  Eddystone,  the  sea  is  full  thirty  fathoms  in  depth; 
so  that  all  the  heavy  seas  from  the  south-west  come  uncontrolled 
upon  the  Eddystone  rocks,  and  break  on  them  with  the  utmost 
fury. 

The  force  and  height  of  these  seas  is  increased  by  the  circum- 
stance of  the  rocks  stretching  across  the  channel,  in  a  north  and 
south  direction,  to  the  length  of  above  one  hundred  fathoms,  and 
by  their  lying  in  a  sloping  manner  toward  the  south-west  quarter. 
This  striving  of  the  rocks,  as  it  is  technically  called,  does  not 
cease  at  low  water,  but  still  goes  on  progressively;  so  that,  at  fifty 
fathoms  westward,  there  are  twelve  fathoms  water,  nor  do  they 
terminate  altogether  at  the  distance  of  a  mile.  From  this  con- 
figuration it  happens,  that  the  seas  are  swelled  to  such  a  degree 
in  storms  and  hard  gales  of  wind,  as  to  break  on  the  rocks  with 
the  utmost  violence. 

The  effect  of  this  slope  is  likewise  sensibly  felt  in  moderate, 
and  even  in  calm  weather,  for  the  liberation  of  the  water,  caused 


244  THE    EDDYSTONE    LIGHT-HOUSE. 

in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  in  hard  gales,  at  south-west,  continues  in  those 
deep  waters  for  many  days,  though  succeeded  by  a  calm;  inso- 
much, that  when  the  sea  is  to  all  appearance  smooth  and  even,  and 
its  surface  unruffled  by  the  slightest  breeze,  yet  those  librations 
still  continuing,  which  are  called  the  ground  swell,  and  meeting 
the  slope*  of  .the  rocks,  the  sea  breaks  upon  them  in  a  frightful 
maaner,  so  as  not  only  to  obstruct  any  work  being  done  upon  the 
rock,  but  even  the  landing  upon  it,  when,  figuratively  speaking, 
you  might  go  to  sea  in  a  walnut-shell.  A  circumstance  which 
still  farther  increases  the  difficulty  of  working  on  the  rocks  is, 
there  being  a  sudden  drop  of  the  surface  of  the  rock,  forming  a 
step  of  about  four  and  a  half,  or  five  feet  high,  so  that  the  seas, 
which  in  moderate  weather  come  swelling  to  this  part,  meet  so 
sudden  a  check,  that  they  frequently  fly  to  the  height  of  thirty  or 
forty  feet. 


Eddystone   Light-House. 

Notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
dangers  to  which  navigators  were  exposed  by  the  Eddystone  rocks, 
«hould  make  a  commercial  nation  desirous  of  having  a  light-house 
on  them.  The  wonder  is,  that  any  one  should  be  found  hardy 
enough  to  undertake  the  building.  Such  a  man  was  first  found  in 
the  person  of  Henry  Winstanly,  of  Littlebury,  in  Essex,  gent,  who, 
in  the  year  1696,  was  furnished  by  the  master,  wardens,  and  as- 
sistants, of  the  Trinity-house,  of  Deptford  Strond,  with  the  neces- 
sary powers  to  carry  the  design  into  execution.  He  entered  upon 
this  undertaking  in  1696,  and  completed  it  in  four  years.  This 
gentleman  was  so  certain  of  the  stability  of  his  structure,  that  he 
declared  it  to  be  his  wish  to  be  in  it  "  during  the  greatest  storm 
that  ever  blew  under  the  face  of  the  heavens." 


THE    EDDTSTONE    LIGHT-HOUSE.  245 

Mr.  Winstanly  was  but  too  amply  gratified  in  his  wish,  for  while 
he  was  there  with  his  workmen  and  light-keepers  that  dreadful 
storm  began,  which  raged  most  violently  on  the  26th  of  November 
1703,  in  the  night;  and  of  all  the  accounts  of  the  kind  which  his- 
tory* furnishes  us  with,  we  have  none  that  has  exceeded  this  in 
Great  Britain,  or  was  more  injurious  or  extensive  in  its  devastation. 
The  next  morning,  November  27th,  when  the  violence  of  the 
storm  was  so  much  abated  that  it  could  be  seen  whether  the  light- 
house had  suffered  by  it,  nothing  appeared  standing;  but,  upon 
a  nearer  inspection,  some  of  the  large  irons  by  which  the  work 
was  fixed  upon  the  rock  still  remained ;  nor  were  any  of  the  people, 
or  any  of  the  materials  of  the  building,  ever  found  afterwards. 

In  1709,  another  light-house  was  built  of  wood,  on  a  very  differ- 
ent construction,  by  Mr.  John  Rudyerd,  then  a  silk  mercer  on 
Ludgate-hill.  This  was  a  very  ingenious  structure;  after  it  had 
braved  the  elements  for  forty-six  years,  it  was  burnt  to  the  ground 
in  1755.  On  the  destruction  of  this  light-house,  that  excellent 
mechanic  and  engineer  Mr.  Smeaton,  was  chosen  as  the  fittest 
person  to  build  another.  It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  he  was 
able  to  persuade  the  proprietors,  that  a  stone  building,  properly 
.constructed,  would  in  all  respects  be  preferable  to  one  of  wood; 
but  having  at  last  convinced  them,  he  turned  his  thoughts  to  the 
shape  which  was  most  suitable  to  a  building  so  critically  situated. 
Reflecting  on  the  structure  of  the  former  buildings,  it  seemed  a 
material  improvement  to  procure,  if  possible,  an  enlargement  of 
the  base,  without  increasing  the  size  of  the  waist,  or  that  part  of 
the  building  which  is  between  the  top  of  the  rock,  and  the  top  of 
the  solid  work.  Hence  he  thought  a  greater  degree  of  strength 
and  stiffness  would  be  gained,  accompanied  with  less  resistance 
1  to  the  acting  power.  On  this  occasion,  the  natural  figure  of  the 
s  waist,  or  bole,  of  large  spreading  oak,  occurred  to  Mr.  Smeaton. 
"  Let  us  (says  he)  consider  its  particular  figure.  Connected 
with  its  roots,  wrhich  lie  hid  below  ground,  it  rises  from  the  surface 
,  with  a  large  swelling  base,  which  at  the  height  of  one  diameter 
i  is  generally  reduced  by  an  elegant  curve,  concave  to  the  eye,  to 
a  diameter  less  by  at  least  one-third*  and  sometimes  to  half  its 
original  base.  From  thence,  its  taper  diminishing  more  slowly, 
its  sides  by  degrees  come  into  a  perpendicular,  and  for  some 
height  form  a  cylinder.  After  that,  a  preparation  of  more  cir- 
cumferance  becomes  necessary,  for  the  strong  insertion  and 
>  establishment  of  the  principal  boughs,  which  produces  a  swelling 
of  its  diameter.  Now  we  can  hardly  doubt,  but  that  every  section 
of  the  tree  is  nearly  of  an  equal  strength  in  proportion  to  what  it 
has  to  resist;  and  were  we  to  lop  off  its  principal  boughs,  and  ex- 
pose it  in  that  state  to  a  rapid  current  of  water,  we  should  find  it 
as  capable  of  resisting  the  action  of  the  heavier  fluid,  when  divest- 
ed of  the  greater  part  of  its  clothing,  as  it  was  that  of  the  lighter, 
when  all  its  spreading  ornaments  were  exposed  to  the  fury  of  the 

21  * 


246  JOHN    PAUL   JONES. 

wind;  and  hence  we  may  derive  an  idea  of  what  the  proper  shape 
of  a  column  of  the  greatest  stability  ought  to  be,  to  resist  the  ac- 
tion of  external  violence,  when  the  quantity  of  matter  is  given  of 
which  it  is  to  be  composed." 

With  these  views,  as  to  the  proper  form  of  the  superstructure, 
Mr.  Smeaton  began  the  work  on  the  2d  of  April,  1757,  and  finish- 
ed it  in  August  4th,  1759.  The  rock,  which  slopes  towards  the 
south-west  is  cut  into  horizontal  steps,  into  which  are  dovetailed, 
and  united  by  a  strong  cement,  Portland  stone,  and  granite.  The 
whole,  to  the  height  of  thirty-five  feet  from  the  foundation,  is  a 
solid  of  stones,  ingrafted  into  each  other,  and  united  by  every 
means  of  additional  strength.  The  building  has  four  rooms,  one 
over  the  other,  and  at  the  top  a  gallery  and  lantern.  The  stone 
floors  are  flat  above,  but  concave  beneath,  and  are  kept  from 
pressing  against  the  sides  of  the  building  by  a-chain  let  into  the 
walls.  It  is  nearly  eighty  feet  high,  and  since  its  completion  has 
been  assaulted  by  the  fury  of  the  elements,  without  suffering  the 
smallest  injury. 

We  regret  that  we  cannot  with  propriety  trace  out  the  progress 
of  this  great  work,  and  shew  with  what  skill  and  judgment  this 
unparalleled  engineer  overcame  the  greatest  difficulties;  we,  how- 
ever, beg  to  recommend  to  our  curious  readers,  Mr.  Smeaton's 
own  account  of  the  Eddystone  light-house,  not  doubting  that  they 
will  be  highly  gratified  by  the  perusal.  According  to  the  requi- 
site tables,  this  light-house  is  situated  in  lat.  50.  8  N.,  long.  4. 
24.  W.  of  Greenwich;  or  4.  18.  23.  W.  of  London. 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES. 

John  Paul  Jones  was  born  at  Arbingland,  in  Scotland,  July  6, 
1747.  His  father  was  a  gardner,  whose  name  was  Paul;  but  the 
son  assumed  that  of  Jones  in  subsequent  life,  for  what  reason  is 
not  known.  Young  Paul  early  evinced  a  decided  predilection  for 
the  sea,  and,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  was  bound  apprentice  to  a  re- 
spectable merchant  of  Whitehaven,  in  the  American  trade.  His 
first  voyage  was  to  America,  where  his  elder  brother  was  estab- 
lished as  a  planter.  He  was  then  engaged  for  some  time  in  the 
slave-trade,  but  quitted  it  in  disgust,  and  returned  to  Scotland,  in 
1768,  as  passenger  in  a  vessel,  the  captain  and  mate  of  which 
died  on  the  passage.  Jones  assumed  the  command,  at  the  request 
of  those  on  board,  and  brought  the  vessel  safe  into  port.  For 


JOHN    PAUL   JONES.  247 

this  service,  he  was  appointed  by  the  owners  master  and  super- 
cargo. While  in  command  of  this  vessel,  he  punished  a  sailor 
who  afterwards  died  of  a  fever  at  the  island  of  Tobago — a  cir- 
cumstance which  gave  rise  to  an  accusation  against  Jones,  of 
having  caused  his  death,  by  the  severity  of  the  punishment  upon 
him;  but  this  has  been  completely  refuted.  Jones  was  afterwards 
in  command  of  the  Betsy,  of  London,  and  remained  some  time  in 
the  West  Indies,  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits  and  speculations, 
by  which  it  is  said  he  realized  a  handsome  fortune.  In  1773,  he 
was  residing  in  Virginia,  arranging  the  affairs  of  his  brother,  who 
had  died  intestate  and  childless,  and  about  this  time  took  the 
name  of  Jones,  In  Virginia  he  continued  to  live  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  struggle  between  the  colonies  and  mother 
country.  He  offered  his  services  to  the  former,  and  was  appointed 
first  of  the  first  lieutenants,  and  designated  to  the  Alfred,  on  board 
of  which  ship,  to  use  his  own  language  in  one  of  his  letters,  "  he 
had  the  honor  to  hoist,  with  his  own  hands,  the  flag  of  freedom, 
the  first  time  it  was  displayed  on  the  Delaware."  Soon  after 
this,  we  find  Jones  in  command  of  the  Providence,  mounting 
twelve  four-pounders,  with  a  complement  of  seventy  men,  cruising 
from  the  Bermudas  to  the  Gut  of  Canso,  and  making  sixteen 
prizes  in  little  more  than  six  weeks.  In  May,  1777,  he  was  or- 
dered to  proceed  to  France,  where  the  American  commissioners, 
Franklin,  Deane  and  Lee,  were  directed  to  invest  him  with  the 
command  of  a  fine  ship,  as  a  reward  of  his  signal  services.  On 
his  arrival  in  France,  he  was  immediately  summoned  to  Paris  by 
the  commissioners.  The  object  of  this  summons  was  to  concert  a 
plan  of  operations  for  the  force  preparing  to  act  against  the  British 
in  the  West  Indies,  and  on  the  coast  of  America.  This  plan, 
which  certainly  did  great  honor  to  the  projector,  though  untoward 
delays  and  accidents  prevented  its  immediate  success,  was  after- 
wards openly  claimed  by  Jones  as  his  own,  without  acknowledging 
the  assistance  or  participation  of  the  American  commissioners  or 
the  French  ministry.  The  Ranger  was  then  placed  under  his 
orders,  with  discretion  to  cruise  where  he  pleased,  with  this  re- 
striction, however,  that  he  was  not  to  return  to  France  immediately 
after  making  attempts  upon  the  coast  of  England,  as  the  French 
government  had  not  yet  declared  itself  openly  as  the  ally  of  the 
U.  States.  April  10,  1778,  he  sailed  on  a  cruise,  during  which 
he  laid  open  the  weakness  of  the  British  coast.  With  a  single 
ship,  he  kept  the  whole  coast  of  Scotland,  and  part  of  that  of 
England,  for  some  time,  in  a  state  of  alarm,  and  made  a  descent 
at  Whitehaven,  where  he  surprised  and  took  two  forts,  with  thirty 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  set  fire  to  the  shipping.  In  this  attack  upon 
Whitehaven,  the  house  of  the- earl  of  Selkirk,  in  whose  service 
the  father  of  Jones  had  been  gardener,  was  plundered,  and  the 
family  plate  carried  off.  "But  the  act  was  committed  without  his 
knowledge,  and  he  afterwards  made  the  best  atonement  in  his 


248  JOHN    PAUL   JONES. 

power.  After  his  return  to  Brest  with  two  hundred  prisoners  of 
war,  he  became  involved  in  a  variety  of  troubles,  for  want  of 
means  to  support  them,  pay  his  crew,  and  refit  his  ship.  After 
many  delays  and  vexations,  Jones  sailed  from  the  road  of  St.  Croix, 
August  14,  1779,  with  a  squadron  of  seven  sail,  designing  to  annoy 
the  coasts  of  England  and  Scotland.  The  principal  .occurrence 
of  this  cruise  was  the  capture  of  the  British  ship  of  war  Serapis, 
after  a  bloody  and  desperate  engagement,  off  Flamborough  head, 
Sept.  23,  1779.  The  Serapis  was  a  vessel  much  superior  in  force 
to  Jones's  vessel,  the  Bon  Homine  Richard,  which  sunk  not  long 
after  the  termination  of  the  engagement.  The  sensation  produced 
by  this  battle  was  unexampled,  and  raised  the  fame  of  Jones  to  its 
acme.  In  a  letter  to  him,  Franklin  says,  "  For  some  days  after 
the  arrival  of  your  express,  scarce  any  thing  was  talked  of  at  Paris 
and  Versailles,  but  your  cool  conduct  and  persevering  bravery 
during  that  terrible  conflict.  You  may  believe  that  the  impression 
on  my  mind  was  not  less  strong  than  on  that  of  the  others.  But 
I  do  not  choose  to  say,  in  a  letter  to  yourself,  all  I  think  on  such 
an  occasion."  His  reception  at  Paris,  whither  he  went  on  the 
invitation  of  Franklin,  was  of  the  most  flattering  kind.  He  was 
every  where  caressed;  the  king  presented  him  with  a  gold  sword, 
bearing  the  inscription,  Vindicati  marts  Ludovicus  XVI  remunera- 
tur  strenuo  vindici,  arid  requested  permission  of  congress  to  invest 
him  with  the  military  order  of  merit — an  honor  never  conferred 
on  any  one  before  who  had  not  borne  arms  under  the  commission 
of  France.  In  1781,  Jones  sailed  for  the  U.  States,  and  arrived  in 
Philadelphia,  February  18th,  of  that  year,  after  a  variety  of  escapes 
and  rencounters,  where  he  underwent  a  sort  of  examination  before 
the  board  of  admiralty,  which  resulted  greatly  to  his  honor.  The 
board  gave  it  as  their  opinion,  "  that  the  conduct  of  Paul  Jones 
merits  particular  attention,  and  some  distinguished  mark  of  appro- 
bation from  Congress."  Congress  passed  a  resolution,  highly 
complimentary  to  his  "  zeal,  prudence  and  intrepidity."  General 
Washington  wrote  him  a  letter  of  congratulation,  and  he  was  af- 
terwards voted  a  gold  medal  by  Congress.  From  Philadelphia 
he  went  to  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  to  superintend  the 
building  of  a  ship  of  war,  and,  while  there,  drew  up  some  admira- 
ble observations  on  the  subject  of  the  American  navy.  By  per- 
mission of  Congress,  he  subsequently  went  on  board  the  French 
fleet,  where  he  remained  until  the  conclusion  of  peace,  which  put 
a  period  to  his  naval  career  in  the  service  of  the  U.  States.  He 
then  went  to  Paris,  as  agent  for  prize-money,  and,  while  there, 
joined  in  a  plan  to  establish  a  fur-trade  between  the  north-west 
coast  of  America  and  China,  in  conjunction  with  a  kindred  spirit, 
the  celebrated  John  Ledyard.  In  Paris,  he  continued  to  be 
treated  with  the  greatest  distinction.  He  afterwards  was  invited 
into  the  Russian  service,  with  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  where  he 
was  disappointed  in  not  receiving  the  command  of  the  fleet  acting 


JAMES    LAWRENCE.  249 

against  the  Turks  in  the  Black  sea.  He  found  fault  with  the 
conduct  of  the  prince  of  Nassau,  the  admiral;  became  restless  and 
impatient;  was  intrigued  against  at  court,  and  calumniated  by  his 
enemies;  and  had  permission,  from  the  empress  Catharine,  to  retire 
from  the  service  with  a  pension,  which  was  never  paid.  He  re- 
turned to  Paris,  where  he  gradually  sunk  into  poverty,  neglect, 
and  ill  health,  until  his  death,  which  was  occasioned  by  jaundice 
and  dropsy,  July  18,  1792.  His  last  public  act  was  heading  a 
deputation  of  Americans,  who  appeared  before  the  national  as- 
'sembly  to  offer  their  congratulations  on  the  glorious  and  salutary 
reform  of  their  government.  This  was  before  the  flight  of  the 
king. — Jones  was  a  man  of  signal  talent  and  courage ;  he  conducted 
all  his  operations  with  the  most  daring  boldness,  combined  with 
the  keenest  sagacity  in  calculating  the  chances  of  success  and  the 
consequences  of  defeat.  He  was,  however,  of  an  irritable,  im- 
petuous disposition,  which  rendered  him  impatient  of  the  authority 
of  his  superiors,  while  he  was,  at  the  same  time,  harsh  in  the 
exercise  of  his  own;  and  he  was  deficient  in  that  modesty  which 
adorns  great  qualities  and  distinguished  actions,  while  it  disarms 
envy  and  conciliates  jealousy.  His  early  education  was  of  a  very 
limited  kind.  It  terminated  when  he  went  to  sea,  at  the  age  of 
twelve;  but  he  supplied  its  defects  by  subsequent  study,  so  as  to 
enable  himself  to  write  with  fluency,  strength  and  clearness,  and 
to  sustain  his  part  respectably  in  the  polished  society  into  which 
he  was  thrown.  In  his  letters,  'he  inculcates  the  necessky  of 
knowledge  for  naval  officers,  and  intimates  that  he  had  devoted 
"  midnight  studies"  to  the  attainment  of  that  information  which 
he  deemed  requisite  in  his  situation  His  memorials,  correspon- 
dence, &c.,  are  quite  voluminous.  He  also  wrote  poetry,  and,  in 
Paris,  was  a  great  pretender  to  ton,  as  a  man  of  fashion,  especially 
after  his  victory  over  the  Serapis,  which,  of  course,  gave  him  great 
eclat  amongst  the  ladies  of  the  French  capital.  At  this  period, 
he  is  described  by  an  English  lady  then  resident  at  Paris,  as  "  a 
smart  little  man  of  thirty-six;  speaks  but  little  French,  and  appears 
to  be  an  extraordinary  genius,  a  poet  as  well  as  a  hero." — Jim.  Enc. 


JAMES  LAWRENCE. 

•» 

James  Lawrence,  a  distinguished  American  naval  commander, 
was  born  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  in  1781.  He  early  manifest- 
ed a  strong  predilection  for  the  sea;  but  his  father,  who  was  a 
lawyer,  was  anxious  that  he  should  pursue  his  own  profession; 
and,  when  only  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  the  law;  but  after  the  death  of  his  father,  he  entered  the  navy 


250  JAMES    LAWRENCE. 

as  a  midshipman,  in  1798.  In  1801,  the  Tripoli  war  having 
commenced,  he  was  promoted,  and,  in  1803,  was  sent  out  to  the 
Mediterranean,  as  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  schooner  Enterprise. 
While  there,  he  performed  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  destruction 
of  the  frigate  Philadelphia,  which  had  been  captured  by  the  Tri- 
politans.  In  the  same  year,  he  was  invested  with  the  temporary 
command  of  the  Enterprise,  during  the  bombardment  of  Tripoli 
by  commodore  Preble,  all  the  ships  of  the  squadron  being  employed 
to  cover  the  boats  during  the  attack;  and  so  well  did  he  execute 
his  duty,  that  the  commodore  could  not  restrain  the  expression  of 
his  thanks.  He  remained  in  the  Mediterranean  three  years,  and 
then  returned  with  Preble  to  the  U.  States,  having  previously 
been  transferred  to  the  frigate  John  Adams,  as  first  lieutenant. 
In  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
U.  States,  and  Lawrence,  at  the  time  in  command  of  the  Hornet, 
a  few  days  afterwards  sailed  with  a  squadron  under  the  orders  of 
commodore  Rogers,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  Jamaica 
fleet.  They  returned,  however,  at  the  end  of  the  following  month, 
to  Boston,  without  having  been  able  to  accomplish  their  object. 
Lawrence  then  accompanied  commodore  Bainbridge  on  a  cruise 
to  the  East  Indies;  but  they  separated  near  St.  Salvador,  on  the 
coast  of  Brazil,  the  Hornet  remaining  there  to  blockade  a  British 
ship  of  war,  laden  with  specie,  till  compelled  to  retire  by  the  ar- 
rival of  a  seventy-four.  Feb.  24,  1813,  ther  Hornet  fell  in  with 
the  brig  Peacock,  captain  Peake,  which  he  took  after  a  furious 
action  of  fifteen  minutes.  This  vessel  was  deemed  one  of  the 
finest  of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  In  the  number  of  her  men 
and  guns,  she  was  somewhat  inferior  to  the  Hornet.  She  sunk 
before  all  the  prisoners  could  be  removed.  The  latter  was  con- 
siderably damaged  in  the  rigging  and  sails,  but  her  hull  was 
scarcely  hurt.  Lawrence  returned  to  the  U.  States,  where  he 
was  welcomed  with  the  applause  due  to  his  conduct;  but  the  most 
honorable  eulogy  bestowed  upon  it,  was  contained  in  a  letter, 
published  by  the  officers  of  the  Peacock,  expressing  their  gratitude 
for  the  consideration  and  kindness  with  which  they  had  been  treat- 
ed. Shortly  after  his  return,  he  was  ordered  to  repair  to  Boston, 
and  take  command  of  the  frigate  Chesapeake.  This  he  did  with 
great  regret,  as  the  Chesapeake  was  one  of  the  worst  ships  in  the 
navy.  He  had  been  but  a  short  time  at  Boston,  when  the  British 
frigate  Shannon,  captain  Brooke,  appeared  before  the  harbor, 
and  defied  the  Chesapeake  to  combat.  Lawrence  did  not  refuse 
the  challenge,  although  his  ship  was  far  from  being  in  a  condition 
for  action;  and,  June  1,  1813,  he  sailed  out  of  the  harbor,  and 
engaged  his  opponent.  After  the  ship  had  exchanged  several 
broadsides,  and  Lawrence  had  been  wounded  in  the  leg,  he  called 
his  boarders,  when  he  received  a  musket-ball  in  his  body.  At  the 
same  time,  the  enemy  boarded,  and,  after  a  desperate  resistance, 
succeeded  in  taking  possession  of  the  ship.  Almost  all  the  officers 


ADDRESS    TO    THE    OCEAN. 


of  the  Chesapeake  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  last  ex- 
clamation of  Lawrence,  as  they  were  carrying  him  below,  after 
the  fatal  wound,  was,  "Don't  give  up  the  ship."  He  lingered 
for  four  days  in  intense  pain,  and  expired  on  the  5th  of  June. 
He  was  buried  at  Halifax,  with  every  mark  of  honor.  —  Ib. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  OCEAN. 


Likeness  of  Heaven ! 

Agent  of  power ! 
Man  is  thy  victim, 

Shipwreck's  thy  dower ! 
Spices  and  jewels 

From  valley  and  sea, 
Armies  and  banners, 

Are  buried  in  thee  ! 

What  are  the  riches 

Of  Mexico's  mines, 
To  the  wealth  that  far  down 

In  thy  deep  waters  shines  ? 
The  proud  navies  that  cover 

The  conquering  west — 
Thou  fling'st  them  to  death 

With  one  heave  of  thy  breast. 

From  the  high  hills  that  view 

Thy  wreck  making  shore, 
When  the  bride  of  the  mariner 

Shrieks  at  thy  roar, 
When  like  lambs  in  the  tempest 

Or  mews  in  the  blast, 
On  thy  ridge  broken  billows 

The  canvass  is  cast — 

How  humbling  to  one, 

With  a  heart  and  a  soul, 
To  look  on  thy  greatness 

And  list  to  its  roll  -r 
To  think  how  that  heart 

In  cold  ashes  shall  be, 
While  the  voice  of  Eternity 

Rises  from  thee  ? 

Yes  !  where  are  the  cities 

Of  Thebes  and  of  Tyre  ? 
Swept  from  the  nations 

Like  sparks  from  the  fire  ; 
The  glory  of  Athens, 

The  splendor  of  Rome, 
D  ssolved — and  forever — 

Like  dew  in  thy  foam. 


252  EARLY    AMERICAN    HEROISM. 

But  thou  art  almighty, 
Eternal — sublime — 

Unwearied —  unwasted — 
Twin  brother  of  Time  . 

Fleets,  tempests  nor  nations 
Thy  glory  can  bow  ; 

As  the  stars  first  beheld  thee, 
m  Still  chainless  art  thou  ! 

But  hold  !  when  thy  surges 

No  longer  shall  roll, 
And  that  firmament's  length 

Is  drawn  back  like  a  scroll, 
Then — then  shall  the  spirit 

That  sighs  by  thee  now, 
Be  more  mighty,  more  lasting, 

More  chainless  than  thou. 


EARLY  AMERICAN  HEROISM. 

During  one  of  the  former  wars,  between  France  and  England 
in  which  the  then  Colonies  bore  an  active  part,  a  respectable  in 
dividual,  a  member  of  the  society  of  Friends,  of  the  name  ol 

,   commanded   a  fine  ship  which  sailed   from  an  Eastern 

port,  to  a  port  in  England.    This  vessel  had  a  strong  and  effective 
crew,  but  was  totally  unarmed.      When  near  her  destined  port,  she 
was  chased,  and  ultimately  overhauled,  by  a   French  vessel   oi 
war.     Her  commander  used  every  endeavor  to  escape,  but  seeing 
from  the  superior  sailing  of  the  Frenchman,  that  his  capture  was 
inevitable,   he  quietly  retired  below:    he  was    followed   into  the 
cabin  by  his  cabin  boy,  a  youth  of  activity  and  enterprise,  namec 
Charles  Wager:   he  asked  his  commander  if  nothing  more  coul( 
be  done  to  save  the  ship — his  commander  replied  that  it  was  im 
possible,  that  every  thing  had  been  done  that  was  practicable 
there  was  no  escape  for  them,  and  they  must  submit  to  tre  cap 
tured.     Charles  then  returned  upon  deck  and  summoned  the  crew 
around  him — he  stated  in  a  few  words   what  was  their  captain's 
conclusion — then,  with  an  elevation  of  mind,  dictated  by  a  sou 
formed  for  enterprise  and  noble  daring,  he  observed,  "  if  you  wil 
place  yourselves  under  my  command,  and  stand  by  me,   I  have 
conceived  a  plan   by  which  the   ship  may  be   rescued,  and  we  in 
turn  become  the  conquerors."     The  sailors  no  doubt  feeling  the 
ardor,  and  inspired   by  the  courage  of  their  youthful  and  gallan 
leader,  agreed  to  place  themselves  under  his  command.    His  plan 
was  communicated   to  them,  and  they  awaited  with  firmness,  the 
moment  to  carry  their  enterprise  into  effect.      The  suspense  was 
of  sh3rt  duration,  for  the  Frenchman  was  quickly  alongside,  am 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  253 

as  the  weather  was  fine,  immediately  grappled  fast  to  the  unof- 
fending merchant  ship.  As  Charles  had  anticipated,  the  exhila- 
rated conquerors,  elated  beyond  measure,  with  the  acquisition  of 
so  fine  a  prize,  poured  into  his  vessel  in  crowds,  cheering  and 
huzzaing;  and  not  foreseeing  any  danger,  they  left  but  few  men 
on  board  their*  ship.  Now  was  the  moment  for  Charles,  who, 
giving  his  men  the  signal,  sprang  at  their  head  on  board  the  op- 
posing vessel,  while  some  seized  the  arms  which  had  been  left  in 
profusion  on  her  deck,  and  with  which  they  soon  overpowered  the 
few  men  left  on  board;  the  others,  by  a  simultaneous  movement, 
relieved  her  from  the  grapplings  which  united  the  two  vessels. 
Our  hero  now  having  the  command  of  the  French  vessel,  seized 
the  helm,  and  placing  her  out  of  boarding  distance,  hailed,  with 
the  voice  of  a  conqueror,  the  discomfited  crowd  of  Frenchmen 
who  were  left  on  board  of  the  peaceful  bark  he  had  just  quitted, 
and  summoned  them  to  follow  close  in  his  wake,  or  he  would  blow 
them  out  of  water,  (a  threat  they  well  knew  he  was  very  capable 
of  executing,  as  their  guns  were  loaded  during  the  chase.)  They 
sorrowfully  acquiesced  with  his  commands,  while  gallant  Charles 
steered  into  port,  followed  by  his  prize.  The  exploit  excited  uni- 
versal applause — the  former  master  of  the  merchant  vessel  was 
examined  by  the  Admiralty,  when  he  stated  the  whole  of  the  en- 
terprise as  it  occurred,  and  declared  that  Charles  Wager  had 
planned  and  effected  the  gallant  exploit,  and. that  to  him  alone 
belonged  the  honor  and  credit  of  the  achievement.  Charles  was 
immediately  transferred  to  the  British  navy,  appointed  a  mid- 
shipman, and  his  education  carefully  superintended.  He  soon 
after  distinguished  himself  in  action,  and  underwent  a  rapid  pro- 
motion, until  at  length  he  was  created  an  Admiral,  and  known  as 
Sir  Charles  Wager.  It  is  said,  that  he  always  held  in  veneration 
and  esteem,  that  respectable  and  conscientious  Friend,  whose  cab- 
in boy  he  had  been,  and  transmitted  yearly  to  his  OLD  MASTER,  as 
he  termed  him,  a  handsome  present  of  Madeira,  to  cheer  his  de- 
clining days. 


CAPTAIN  G.  VANCOUVER. 

Notwithstanding  the  valuable  discoveries  of  Cook,  further  in 
vestigation  was  required  of  some  of  the  southern  regions,  with 
which  view  a  voyage  was  planned  in  autumn  1789,  and  the  com- 
mand destined  to  Captain  Henry  Roberts,  who  had  served  under 
Captain  Cook  in  the  two  last  voyages,  Captain  Vancouver  being 
named  as  his  second;  and  for  this  purpose  a  ship  of  three  hundred 
and  forty  tons  was  purchased,  in  a  state  nearly  finished,  and  on 

22 


254  CAPTAIN   G.   VANCOUVER. 

being  launched  was  named  the  Discovery,  and  commissioned  as 
a  sloop  ;  but  the  disputes  with  Spain  respecting  Nootka  Sound  for 
a  short  time  suspended  her  equipment.  These  differences  being 
•terminated,  and  the  fisheries  and  fur-trade  of  China  being  objects 
of  material  importance,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  send  an  officer 
to  Nootka  to  receive  from  the  Spaniards  a  formal  restitution  of 
the  territories  they  had  seized ;  to  survey  the  coast,  obtain  every 
possible  information  of  the  natural  and  political  state  of  the  coun- 
try. To  this  command  Captain  Vancouver  was  now  appointed. 
The  same  ship,  the  Discovery,  was  equipped,  carrying  ten  four 
pounders  and  ten  swivels,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  includ- 
ing officers,  Captain  Vancouver  being  Captain,  Messrs.  Zacha- 
riah  Mudge,  Peter  Puget,  and  Joseph  Baker,  lieutenants ;  and 
Joseph  Whidbey,  master.  She  was  'to  be  accompanied  by  the 
Chatham  armed  tender,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  tons,  four 
three-pounders,  six  swivels,  and  forty-five  men,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  W.  R.  Broughton  ;  James  Hanson,  second  lieutenant ; 
and  James  Johnstone,  master.  Mr.  Archibald  Menzies,  a  sur- 
geon of  the  navy,  was  also  appointed  for  the  special  purpose  of 
botanical  research. 

On  the  5th  February,  1791,  the  Discovery  anchored  at  Spithead, 
on  the  llth  March  proceeded  down  the  channel  to  Falmouth, 
where  she  was,  on  the  31st,  joined  by  the  Chatham.  On  the  28th 
April  they  made  Teneriffe.  They  crossed  the  tropic  of  Capricorn 
the  12th  June,  in  25  deg.  18  min.,  after  which  it  was  resolved  to 
proceed  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  whither  they  arrived  the  10th 
July,  and  where  a  variety  of  necessary  repairs  employed  them  till 
the  llth  of  August.  After  being  detained  by  contrary  winds  and 
calms  till  the  17th,  they  then  sailed  out  of  the  Simon's  Bay,  bound 
for  the  coast  of  New  Holland,  and  directing  their  course  between 
the  tracks  of  Dampier  and  Marion,  over  a  space  before  unfre- 
quented. On  the  27th  September  they  made  land,  and,  in  latitude 
35  deg.  31  min.  and  longitude  160  deg.  35  min.  30  sec.  passed  by 
a  conspicuous  promontory,  to  which  Captain  Vancouver  gave  the 
name  of  Cape  Chatham,  after  the  Earl. 

The  natives  along  this  coast  appeared  to  be  a  wandering  people, 
who  sometimes  made  their  excursions  individually ;  at  other  times 
in  considerable  parties ;  this  was  apparent,  by  their  habitations 
being  found  single  and  alone,  as  well  as  composing  tolerably  large 
villages.  Besides  the  village  they  visited,  Mr.  Broughton  dis- 
covered another  about  two  miles  distant  from  it,  of  nearly  the  same 
magnitude  ;  but  it  appeared  to  be  of  a  much  later  date,  as  all  the 
huts  had  been  recently  built,  and  seemed  to  have  been  very  lately 
inhabited.  The  larger  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  both  villages  had 
been  hollowed  out  by  fire,  sufficiently  to  afford  the  shelter  these 
people  seemed  to  require.  Upon  stones  placed  in  the  inside  of 
these  hollow  trees  fires  had  been  made,  which  proved  that  they 
had  been  used  as  habitations,  either  for  the'  inferior  of  the  party, 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  255 

which  would  argue  a  degree  of  subordination  amongst  them,  or 
for  those  who  were  too  indolent  to  build  themselves  the  wattled 
huts  before  described. 

From  this  coast  Captain  Vancouver  proceeded  to  New  Zealand, 
which  he  reached  on  the  27th  October,  and  anchored  in  Dusky 
Bay,  when  they  encountered  a  heavy  storm,  the  effects  of  which 
required  considerable  repair,  particularly  of  the  Discovery. 
Another  heavy  gale  occurred  on  the  22d  and  23d,  after  which,  very 
unexpectedly,  they  made  land,  namely,  a  cluster  of  seven  craggy 
islands,  the  largest  situated  in  latitude  48  deg.  3  min.  longitude 
166  deg.  20  min.,  which  had  not  been  seen  by  Captain  Cook. 
These  sterile  rocks  Captain  Vancouver  denominated  The  Snares. 
Another  new  island  was  discovered  on  the  22d  of  December,  in  21 5 
deg.  49  min.  Several  canoes  came  off  to  the  ship,  but  the  natives 
would  not  go  on  board,  while  they  used  every  solicitation  to  in- 
duce the  English  to  land.  One  at  length  ventured  on  board. 

These  people  were  evidently  of  the  Great  South  Sea  nation, 
both  from  language  and  a  similarity  to  the  Friendly  Islanders. 
Two  or  three  of  them  remained  on  board  nearly  an  hour;  but  so 
much  was  their  attention  distracted,  that  they  could  scarcely  give 
an  answer  as  to  the  name  of  the  island,  or  otherwise.  It  appear- 
ed on  the  whole,  that  they  called  it  Oparo,  by  which  name  it  is 
therefore  distinguished  by  Captain  Vancouver.  The  tops  of  six 
of  the  highest  hills  bore  the  appearance  of  fortified  places,  resemb- 
ling redoubts;  having  a  sort  of  block-house,  in  the  shape  of  an 
English  glass-house,  in  the  centre  of  each,  with  rows  of  palisadoes 
a  considerable  way  down  the  sides  of  the  hills,  nearly  at  equal  dis- 
tances. These,  overhanging,  seemed  intended  for  advanced 
works,  and  apparently  capable  of  defending  the  citadel  by  a  few 
against  a  numerous  host  of  assailants.  On  all  of  them  they  no- 
ticed people,  as  if  on  duty,  constantly  moving  about.  These  were 
the  only  habitations  they  saw. 

On  the  29th  the  Discovery  reached  Otaheite,  where  they  had 
been  expected  in  consequence  of  information  by  an  English  vessel, 
which  turned  out  to  be  the  Chatham,  that  had  separated  near 
Facile  Harbor,  and  arrived  before  them.  The  Chatham,  during 
her  separation,  had  seen  several  immaterial  lands,  named  by  Mr. 
Broughton  successively,  Knight's  Island,  (the  same  as  The  Snares 
of  Captain  Vancouver),  Point  Alison,- Mount  Patterson,  The  Two 
Sisters,  and  Cape  Soung.  An  island  which  he  named  Chatham 
Island,  and  the  anchorage  of  which,  in  Skirmish  Bay,  was  43  deg. 
49  min.  latitude,  and  183  deg.  25  min.  longitude,  was  taken  posses- 
sion of.  Here,  having  gone  on  shore,  a  number  of  the  natives 
came  about,  held  a  conversation  by  signs  and  gestures,  and  readi- 
ly received  Mr.  Broughton's  presents,  but  would  make  no  ex- 
changes. They  were  very  anxious  to  have  the  party  follow  them 
to  their  habitations,  but  this  was  thought  imprudent.  Nothing 
would  prevail  on  the  islanders  to  give  up  any  of  their  articles,* 


256  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER 

but  they  not  only  readily  accepted,  but  carried  off  various  things 
belonging  to  the  party,  and  were  particularly  anxious  to  get  Mr. 
Broughtqn's  fowling-piece,  which  he  had  fired,  much  to  their 
alarm.  Having,  in  order  both  to  get  information  and  to  procure 
water,  at  length  made  signs  of  their  intention  to  accompany  the 
natives,  it  appeared  that  the  latter  had  meditated  hostility,  having 
collected  large  sticks,  swinging  them  over  their  heads,  as  if  with 
an  intention  of  using  them;  several  of  them  likewise  had  spears. 
Yet,  being  well  armed,  Mr.  Broughton's  party  were  not  afraid, 
especially  as  they  thought  they  had  purchased  the  good  opinion  of 
the  savages.  They  were,  however,  mistaken;  an  attack  was  made 
so  violently,  that  both  Mr.  Broughton  and  Mr.  Johnstone  were  re- 
luctantly obliged  to  fire,  as  did  the  gentleman  having  the  charge 
of  the  boat,  which  occasioned  the  natives  to  fly,  but  not  before  one 
of  them  had  unfortunately  perished. 

On  the  Discovery  anchoring,  she  was  surrounded  by  canoes 
laden  with  the  country  productions.  Captain  Vancouver  found 
that  most  of  the  friends  he  had  left  there  in  1777  were  dead 
Otoo,  now  called  Tomarrey,  his  father,  brothers,  and  sisters, 
Potatou,  and  his  family,  were  the  only  of  their  chiefs  now  living. 
Captain  Vancouver  and  Mr.  Broughton  went  on  shore  to  fix  on 
an  eligible  spot  for  tents,  and  to  pay  their  respects  to  his  Otahei- 
tan  majesty.  They  found  Otoo,  Pomarrey's  son  and  now  king, 
to  be  a  boy  of  about  nine  or  ten  years  of  age.  He  was  carried 
on  the  shoulders  of  a  man,  and  was  clothed  in  a  piece  of  English 
red  cloth,  with  ornaments  of  pigeons'  feathers  hanging  over  his 
shoulders.  When  they  had  approached  within  about  eight  paces, 
they  were  desired  to  stop;  the  present  they  had  brought  was  ex- 
hibited ;  and  although  its  magnitude,  and  the  value  of  the  articles  it 
contained,  excited  the  admiration  of  the  by-standers  in  the  highest 
degree,  it  was  regarded  by  this  young  monarch  with  an  apparent- 
ly stern  and  cool  indifference.  After  some  other  ceremonies,  a 
ratification  of  peace  and  mutual  friendship  being  acknowledged 
on  both  sides,  the  different  European  articles  composing  the 
present  were,  with  some  little  form,  presented  to  Otoo;  arid  on 
his  shaking  hands  with  them,  which  he  did  very  heartily,  his 
countenance  became  immediately  altered,  and  he  received  them 
with  the  greatest  cheerfulness  and  cordiality. 

On  the  2d  day  of  January,  1792,  arrived  Pomarrey,  who  was, 
.o  his  great  gratification,  saluted  with  four  guns.  With  him  came 
Matooara  Mahou,  the  reigning  Prince  of  Morea,  under  Otoo, 
but  who  was  in  a  deep  decline.  At  one  of  the  entertainments  on 
board,  Pomarrey  having  drank  a  bottle  of  undiluted  brandy,  it 
threw  him  into  convulsions;  after  which,  having  slept  for  an  hour, 
he  was  perfectly  recovered.  Captain  Vancouver  endeavored  to 
persuade  him  of  the  bad  consequence  of  inebriety.  The  chief 
on  this  accused  him  of  being  a  stingy  fellow,  and  not  tio  !io,  (a 
jolly  companion).  On  this  it  was  determined  to  give  him  his  own 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  257 

way,  and  orders  were  given   to  let  him  have  as  much  brandy  or* 
rum  as  he  should  call  i'or,  which  had  completely  the  effect,  for  in 
a  week  he^beased  to  call  for  any. 

Pomarrey's  father,  formerly  called  Happi,  now  Taou,  also  came 
to  visit  tUem,  and  a  most  affectionate  interview  took  place  between 
the  three  sons  and  their  aged  and  venerable  father.  A  very  dif- 
ferent scene  was  afterwards  exhibited.  It  was  announced  that 
Otoo  was  approaching.  On  this  occasion  it  became  necessary 
hat  the  grandfather  should  pay  homage  to  *his  grandson.  A  pig 
and  a  plaintain-leaf  were  instantly  procured;  the  good  old  man 
stripped  to  the  waist,  and  when  Otoo  appeared  in  front  of  the 
marquee,  the  aged  parent,  whose  limbs  were  tottering  with  the 
decline  of  life,  met  his  grandson,  and  on  his  knees  acknowledged 
his  own  inferiority,  by  presenting  this  token  of  submission;  which, 
so  far  as  could  be  discovered,  seemed  offered  with  a  mixture  of 
profound  respect  and  parental  regard.  The  ceremony  seemed 
to  have  little  effect  on  the  young  monarch,  who  appeared  to  no- 
tice the  humiliating  situation  of  his  grandsire  with  the  most  per- 
fect indifference  and  unconcern.  This  mode  of  behavior  is, 
however,  rather  to  be  attributed  to  the  force  of  education,  than 
to  a  want  of  the  proper  sentiments  of  affection. 

On  the  14th  a  message  was  received  of  the  death  of  Mahou, 
at  Oparre,  which  district  was,  for  some  days,  by  a  religious  in- 
terdict, forbidden  communication  with  the  rest  of  the  island.  Mr. 
Broughton,  and  a  party  of  the  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  ships, 
having  ir.ade  an  excursion  for  purchasing  curiosities  among  the 
islands,  landed  to  see  the  grand  morai,  or  tapootapootatea. 
Mowre,  the  sovereign  of  Uleatea,  who  attended  them,  on  ap- 
proaching the  sacred  spot,  desired  the  party  would  stop  until  he 
should  address  the  Eatooa.  Then,  seating  himself  on  the  ground, 
he  began  praying  before  a  watta,  ornamented  with  a  piece  of  wood, 
indifferently  carved,  on  which  was  placed,  for  the  occasion,  a 
bundle  of  cloth  and  some  red  feathers.  During  this  ejaculation 
the  names  of  the  party  were  twice  mentioned.  He  likewise  re- 
peated the  names  of  the  several  commanders  who  had  visited  the 
island,  together  with  those  of  "  Keene  George  "  (that  is,  King 
George)  and  "  Britarne,"  which  were  frequently  expressed. 
When  these  introductory  ceremonies  were  finished,  Mowree  at- 
tended them  to  every  part  of  the  morai,  and  explained  every  par- 
ticular. He  appeared  to  be  well  versed  in  all  the  ceremonials 
and  rites  appertaining  to  their  religion,  which  made  the  party 
greatly  lament  their  want  of  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  lan- 
guage, as  they  were  unable  to  comprehend  his  meaning,  except 
in  a  few  common  instances. 

The  next  morning  they  were  again  honored  by  a  visit  from 
Otoo  and  several  of  the  chiefs,  in  their  way  to  the  morai.  Soon 
aft<  r  a  canoe,  covered  with  an  awning,  was  seen  coming  from 
the  westward,  paddling  in  a  slow  and  solemn  manner  towards  the 

22* 


258  CAPTAIN   G.   VANCOUVER. 

morai,  in  which  was  the  corpse  of  the  deceased  chief.  On  their 
expressing  great  anxiety  to  see  Pomarrey,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  permission  to  attend  the  burial  ceremony,  they  were 
informed  that  he  was  gone  to  the  morai,  but  would  have  no 
objection  to  their  being  present.  They  proceeded  ;  and  near  to 
the  rivulet  that  flows  by  Urripiah's  house,  they  saw  the  queen- 
mother,  Fier-re-te,  and  the  widow  of  the  deceased  Mahow,  sitting 
all  in  tears  ;  and,  in  the  paroxysm  of  their  affliction,  wounding 
their  heads  with  the  sharks'  teeth  they  had  prepared  the  preceding 
evening.  The  widow  had  a  small  spot  shaved  on  the  crown  of 
her  head,  which  was  bloody,  and  bore  other  evident  marks  of 
having  frequently  undergone  the  cruel  effect  of  her  despair.  The 
body  of  Mahow,  wrapped  in  English  red  cloth,  was  deposited  under 
an  awning  in  a  canoe,  whose  bow  was  drawn  up  a  little  way  on 
the  beach  near  the  morai,  and  was  attended  by  one  man  only,  at  her 
stern,  up  to  his  middle  in  water,  to  prevent  her  driving  from  the 
spot.  The  priests  continued  chanting  their  prayers,  frequently  ex- 
alting their  voices,  until  they  ended  in  a  very  shrill  tone.  The 
address  being  ended,  they  all  rose  up  and  proceeded  westward 
along  the  shore,  followed  by  the  canoe,  in  which  was  the  corpse, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  rivulet,  where  the  three  royal  ladies  still  con- 
tinued to  indulge  their  excessive  grief;  and,  on  perceiving  the 
canoe,  burst  forth  into  a  loud  yell  of  lamentation,  which  was 
accompanied  by  an  accelerated  application  of  the  sharks'  teeth, 
until  the  blood,  very  freely  following,  mingled  with  their  tears. 
The  canoe  entered  the  brook  and  proceeded  towards  another 
morai  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  where  the  ceremonies  to  be 
performed  on  the  body  of  the  deceased  required  such  secrecy, 
that  on  no  account  could  the  gentlemen  be  permitted  to  attend, 
although  it  was  most  earnestly  requested. 

In  consequence  of  a  message  from  Pomarrey,  Captain  Van- 
couver and  Messrs.  Broughton  and  Whidbey  went  to  Oparre,  to 
assist  at  the  mourning  for  the  death  of  Mahow.  The  concern 
here  of  the  relatives  was  by  no  means  such  as  might  have  been 
expected  from  their  tender  regard  to  the  chief  when  alive.  The 
corpse  was  laid  on  the  tapapaoo,  which  seemed  to  have  been  erect- 
ed for  the  express  purpose,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  grand  morai,  (or,  as  it  is  called,  "  tapootapootatea  ")  ; 
and  appeared  to  be  then  undergoing  the  latter  part  of  the  embalm- 
ing process,  in  the  same  manner  as  described  by  Captain  Cook 
in  the  instance  of  Tee.  The  body  was  exposed  to  the  sun  ;  and 
on  their  approach  the  covering  was  taken  off,  which  exhibited  the 
corpse  in  a  very  advanced  state  of  putrefaction.  The  skin  shone 
very  bright  with  the  cocoa-nut  oil  with  which  it  had  been  anointed, 
and  which  they  understood  was  highly  impregnated  with  "  aehigh," 
or  sweet-scented  wood.  One  of  the  arms  and  a  leg  being  moved, 
the  joints  appeared  perfectly  flexible.  The  extremely  offensive 
exhalations  that  were  emitted,  rendered  it  natural  to  conclude, 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  259 

that  he  whole  mass  would  soon  be  completely  decomposed;  but, 
if  credit  may  be  given  to  their  assertions,  which  were  indubitably 
confirmed  by  the  remains  of  Tee,  and  to  which  the  captain -could 
bear  testimony,  this  will  not  be  the  case.  Pomarrey  informed 
them,  the  corpse  was  to  remain  a  month  in  this  place;  then  a 
month  was  to  be  employed  in  its  visiting  some  of  the  western  dis- 
tricts; after  which  it  was  to  be  removed  to  Tiaraboo  for  another 
month;  whence  it  was  to  be  carried  to  Morea,  and  there  finally 
deposited  with  his  forefathers  in  the  morai  of  the  family.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  months  after  its  arrival  there,  it  would  gradually 
begin  to  moulder  away,  but  by  such  very  slow  degrees,  that  sev- 
eral months  would  elapse  before  the  body  would  be  entirely  con- 
sumed. The  boat's  crew  were  ranged  before  .the  paling  that 
encompassed  the  tapapaoo;  a  piece  of  red  cloth  from  them  was 
given  to  the  widow,  who  spread  it  over  the  dead  body;  some  vol- 
lies  were  then  fired,  and  the  captain  was  directed  to  pronounce 
"  Tera  no  oea  Mahow,"  that  is,  For  you  Mahow.  On  some  rain 
falling,  the  body  was  taken  under  cover  and  carefully  wrapped  up. 
They  proceeded  to  an  excellent  new  house  of  Whytooa's,  where 
they  dined,  and  returned  to  Matarai  with  two  large  hogs,  pre- 
sented on  this  mournful  occasion  by  the  widow  of  Mahow. 

A  serious  theft  of  a  large  quantity  of  linen  belonging  to  Mr. 
Broughton,  as  well  as  two  axes,  now  demanded  the  most  rigorous 
inquiry.  An  additional  mortification  happened  on  the  21st. — 
Towereroo.  a  Sandwich  islander  (brought  out  from  England  in 
the  Discovery,)  had,  in  the  course  of  the  preceeding  night,  found 
means  to  elope  from  tlie  ship.  After  much  trouble  of  investiga- 
tion, and  some  coercion,  on  the  23d  the  three  royal  brothers 
brought  back  Towereroo,  with  a  variety  of  expiatory  presents. 
The  linen  there  appeared  now  no  prospect  of  recovering,  without 
both  losing  time  and  having  recourse  to  unpleasant  measures;  it 
was.  therefore,  resolved  to  depart  without  it;  presents  as  usual 
were  distributed,  and  the  separation  took  place  with  the  utmost 
harmony. 

Omai,  it  seems,  having  died  without  children,  the  house  which 
Ca.ptain  Cook  had  built  for  him,  the  lands  that  were  purchased, 
and  the  horse,  which  was  still  alive,  together  with  such  European 
commodities  as  remained  at  his  death,  all  descended  to  Matuarro, 
as  king  of  the  island;  and,  when  his  majesty  is  at  home,  Omai's 
house  is  his  constant  residence.  From  Matuarro  they  learned, 
that  Omai  was  much  respected,  and  that  he  frequently  afforded 
great  entertainment  to  him,  and  the  other  chiefs,  with  the  ac- 
counts of  his  travels,  and  describing  the  various  countries, 
objects,  &c.  that  had  fallen  under  his  observation;  and  that  he 
died  universally  regretted  and  lamented.  His  death,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  two^New  Zealand  boys  left  with  him  by  Captain  Cook, 
was  occasioned  by  a  disorder  that  is  attended  by  a  large  swelling 
in  he  throat,  of  which  very  few  recover. 


260  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 

On  the  24th  January,  the  Discovery  and  Chatham  directed 
their  course  to  the  northward,  for  the  first  time  pointing  their  heads 
towards  the  grand  object  of  the  expedition.  On  the  2d  February 
passed  Owhyhee,  one  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  were  honored 
by  a  visit  from  Tianna,  the  personage  mentioned  in  Mr.  Mears's , 
voyage,  who,  since  his  return  from  China,  had  taken  part  with 
Tamaahmaah  against  Teamawheere,  and,  being  victorious,  these 
two  chiefs  had  agreed  to  share  the  government.  Tianna  was 
taken  on  board  to  go  to  the  Leeward  Islands.  Tareehooa,  who 
preferred  the  name  of  Jack,  having  been  with  Mr.  Ingrain  com- 
manding an  American  ship,  laden  with  furs,  from  North-West , 
America,  bound  to  Boston,  by  the  way  of  China,  was  desirous  of 
continuing  on  board  the  Discovery,  and  to  proceed  on  the  voyage, 
which,  with  consent  of  the  chief,  was  complied  with.  After  pas- 
sing some  desolate  islands,  the  Discovery  anchored,  on  the  7th 
of  March,  in  a  bay  called  Whykete,  south  of  the  Island  of 
Woahoo,  on  good  and  safe  ground.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  went 
on  board,  and  were  exceedingly  orderly  and  docile,  which  appear- 
ed the  more  remarkable,  as  they,  had  formerly  been  represented 
as  the  most  daring  and  unmanageable  of  any  in  the  Sandwich 
Islands. 

Their  new  ship-mate,  Jack,  became  very  useful;  he  took  upon 
him  to  represent  them  in  the  most  formidable  point  of  view  to  all 
his  countrymen;  magnifying  their  powers^and  numbers,  and  pro- 
claiming that  they  were  not  traders,  such  as  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  see;  but  were  belonging  to  King  George,  and  were  all 
mighty  warriors.  This  being  his  constant  discourse,  it.  is  not  to 
be  wondered  that  his  countrymen  became  much  intimidated;  and, 
as  this  could  be  productive  of  no  ill  consequences,  they  permitted 
Jack  to  proceed  in  his  encomiums,  and  unanimously  agreed  it 
would  not  be  his  fault  if  they  were  not  in  high  repute  amongst 
the  islanders. 

The  natives  having  failed  in  supplying  water  as  expected, 
Captain  Vancouver  set  sail,  on  the  8th,  for  Attowai,  where  he 
understood  it  was  to  be  had  without  difficulty.  Whyhetee  Bay 
lies  in  latitude  21  deg.  16  min.  47  sec.,  longitude  202  deg.  9  min. 
37  sec.  Next  morning  they  made  Whymea  Bay,  on  the  south 
side  of  Attowai.  The  inhabitants  of  this  island  behaved  in  the 
same  orderly  manner,  and  with  the  same  distant  civility  experi- 
enced at  Woahoo,  and  gave  the  necessary  assistance  in  watering 
and  other  operations.  The  land  here  was  also  much  the  same, 
and  similarly  cultivated  with  the  taro  plant.  Here  were  found 
Rowbottorn,  an  Englishman,  Williams,  a  Welshman,  and  Cole- 
man,  an  Irishman,  left  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  pearls  and 
sandal-wood  for  their  master,  John  Kendrick,  an  American,  com- 
manding the  Lady  Washington,  and  which  was  to  call  for  them  in 
her  return  from  China,  to  take  them  on  board  with  the  pearls  and- 
sandal-wood  collected.  They  were  visited  by  two  chiefs,  No-rna- 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  261 

tee-he-tee  and  Too,  announcing  that  Enemoh,  guardian  of  the 
young  prince  Ta-moo-eree,  who  was  the  eldest  son  of  Taio,  sove- 
reign of  this  and  the  neighboring  islands,  together  with  the  prince 
himself,  would  be  with  them  in  a  few  days.  They  accordingly 
came  and  behaved  with  the  utmost  propriety,  although,  from  cer- 
tain appearances  of  fire,  as  well  as  the  circumstance  of  a  schooner 
taken  by  the  Indians  at  Owyhee,  and  the  cautions  of  Rowbottom, 
Captain  Vancouver  had  not  been  without  suspicions  of  treachery. 
Enemoh  readily  went  on  board  and  an  exchange  was  made  of 
presents,  which,  though  liberal  on  the  part  of  Captain  Vancouver, 
did  not  give  satisfaction;  the  great  desire  of  the  chief,  as  of  all 
of  them,  being  to  have  fire-arms  and  ammunition,  with  which  the 
various  traders  touching  at  their  islands  had  most  improperly,  and 
even  cruelly,  supplied  the  inhabitants. 

Wednesday,  the  14th  of  March,  the  two  ships  sailed  for  the 
coast  of  America.  On  the  17th  of  April  they  saw  land,  being 
part  of  New  Albion,  and  being  then  in  39  deg.  27  min.  latitude, 
236  deg.  25  min.  longitude.  On  the  28th  they  spoke  an  Ameri- 
can ship,  Columbia,  Mr.  Robert  Gray,  commander,  of  Boston, 
whence  she  had  been  absent  eighteen  months.  On  the  29th,  an- 
chored about  eight  miles  within  the  entrance  of  the  supposed 
Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca.  Of  course  they  made  a  strict  investiga- 
tion of  this  passage,  and  were  satisfied  that  it  did  not  exist. 

Port  Discovery,  where  the  vessels  now  went  to  anchor,  is"  a 
perfectly  safe  and  convenient  harbor,  having  its  outer  points  one 
mile  and  three  quarters  asunder,  and  situated  in  latitude  48  dog. 
7  min.,  longitude  237  deg.  20J  min.  The  country  of  New  Albion, 
in  this  neighborhood,  is  of  a  rich  fertile  soil.  In  respect  to  its 
mineral  productions  no  great  variety  was  observed.  Iron  ore,  in 
its  various  forms,  was  generally  found;  and,  from  the  weight  and 
magnetic  qualities  of  some  specimens,  appeared  tolerably  rich, 
particularly  a  kind  that  much  resembled  the  blood-stone. 

The  next  place  of  research  was  Admiralty  Inlet,  where  the 
ships* anchored  off  Restoration  Point.  The  general  information 
here  is  little.  The  natives  were  much  the  same,  equally  ill-made, 
and  their  persons  besmeared  with  oil  and  ochre,  and  a  sort  of 
shining  chaffy  mica  very  ponderous,  and  in  colors  resembling 
black-lead;  but  decked  more  with  copper  ornaments,  whilo  they 
were  not  wanting  in  acts  and  offers  of  friendship  and  hospitality, 
and  behaved  with  perfect  decorum  and  civility. 

About  a  dozen  of  these  friendly  people  had  attended  at  their 
dinner,  one  part  of  which  was  a  venison  pasty.  Two  of  them, 
expressing  a  desire  to  pass  the  line  of  separation  d/awn  between 
them,  were  permitted  to  do  so.  They  sat  down  by  the  English, 
and  ate  of  the  bre&d  and  fish  given  them  without  the  least  hesita- 
tion; but,  on  being  offered  some  of  the  venison,  they  could  not  be 
induced  to  taste  it.  They  received  it  with  great  disgust,  and 
presented  it  round  to  the  rest  of  the  party,  by  whom  it  underwent 


262  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 


a  very  strict  examination.  Their  conduct  on  this  occasion  left 
no  doubt  that  they  believed  it  to  be  human  flesh,  an  impression 
which  it  was  highly  expedient  should  be  done  away.  To  satisfy 
them  that  it  was  the  flesh  of  the  deer,  they  pointed  to  the  skins  of 
the  animal  they  had  about  them.  In  reply  to  this  they  pointed  to 
each  other,  and  made  signs  that  could  not  be  misunderstood,  that 
it  was  the  flesh  of  human  beings,  and  threw  it  down  in  the  dirt, 
with  gestures  of  great  aversion  and  displeasure.  At  length  they 
nappiiy  convinced  them  of  their  mistake  by  showing  them  a 
haunch  they  had  in  the  boat,  by  which  means  they  were  unde- 
ceived, and  some  of  them  ate  of  the  remainder  of  the  pie  with  a 
good  appetite. 

On  Monday,  the  4th  of  June,  the  ship's  companies  were  served 
a  good  dinner,  it  being  the  anniversary  of  his  majesty's  birth;  on 
which  day,  they  designed  to  take  formal  possession  of  all  the 
countries  they  had  lately  been  employed  in  exploring.  Pursuing 
the  usual  formalities  on  such  occasions,  and  under  the  discharge 
of  a  royal  salute  from  the  vessels,  they  took  possession  according- 
ly of  the  coast,  from  that  part  of  New  Albion,  in  the  latitude 
of  39  deg.  20  min.  north,  and  longitude  236  deg.  26  min.  east,  to 
the  entrance  of  this  inlet  of  the  sea,  said  to  be  the  straits  of  Juan 
de  Fiica,  as  likewise  all  the  coast,  islands,  &.c.  by  the  name  of 
the  Gulf  of  Georgia;  and  the  continent  binding  the  said  gulf  and 
extending  southward  to  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude,  with 
that  of  New  Georgia,  in  honor  of  his  majesty. 

On  the  5th  of  June,  the  Discovery  and  Chatham  sailed  from 
Possession  Sound.  Having  anchored  on  the  llth  in  Strawberry 
Bay,  so  named  from  its  producing  that  excellent  fruit  in  abun 
dance,  latitude  48  deg.  36  min.,  longitude  237  deg.  34  min.,  and 
there  being  several  things  necessary  to  be  done,  Captain  Van 
couver  and  Mr.  Puget,  in  the  Discovery's  yawl,  and  Mr.  Whidby 
in  the  cutter,  attended  by  the  Chatham's  launch,  explored  the 
neighborhood.  As  they  were  rowing  on  the  22d,  for  Point  Grey, 
purposing  there  to  land  and  breakfast,  they  discovered  two  ves- 
sels at  anchor  under  the  land.  They  were  a  brig  and  a  schooner, 
wearing  the  colors  of  Spanish  vessels  of  war,  most  probably  em- 
ployed in  pursuits  similar  to  their  own,  and  this  idea  was  confirm- 
ed. These  vessels  proved  to  be  a  detachment  from  the  commis 
sion  of  Seignor  Malaspina,  who  was  himself  employed  in  the 
Philippine  islands.  Seignor  Malaspina  had,  the  preceding 
year,  visited  the  coast,  and  these  vessels,  his  Catholic  majesty's 
brig  the  Sutil,  under  the  command  of  Seignor  Don  D.  Galiano, 
with  the  schooner  Mexicana,  commanded  by  Seignor  Don  C. 
Valdes,  both  captains  of  frigates  in  the  Spanish  navy,  had  sailed 
from  Acapulco  on  the  8th  of  March,  in  order  to  prosecute  discov- 
eries on  this  coast.  From  these  gentlemen  Vancouver  understood, 
that  Seignor  Quadra,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Spanish 
marine  at  St.  Bias  an  \  at  California,  was,  with  three  frigates  and 


CAPTAIN   G.    VANCOUVER.  263 

• 

a  brig,  waiting  his  arrival  at  Nootka,  in  order  to  negotiate  the 
restoration  of  those  territories  to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 
Their  conduct  was  replete  with  that  politeness  and  friendship 
which  characterize  the  Spanish  nation ;  every  kind  of  useful  infor- 
mation they  cheerfully  communicated,  and  obligingly  expressed 
much  desire,  that  circumstances  might  so  concur  as  to  admit  their 
respective  labors  being  carried  on  together. 

The  17th  of  August  they  were  suddenly  surprised  by  the  arrival 
of  a  brig  off  the  entrance  of  the  cove,  under  English  colors. 
She  was  the  Venus,  belonging  to  Bengal,  of  one  hundred  and 
ten  tons  burden,  commanded  by  Mr.  Shepherd,  last  from  Nootka, 
and  bound  on  a  trading  voyage  along  these  shores.  By  him  they 
received  the  pleasant  tidings  of  the  arrival  of  the  Daedalus  store- 
ship,  laden  with  a  supply  of  provisions  and  stores  for  their  use ; 
and  he  acquainted  Mr.  Baker,  that  Seignor  Quadra  was  waiting 
with  the  greatest  impatience  to  deliver  up  the  settlement  and  ter- 
ritories at  Nootka.  Mr.  Shepherd  had  brought  with  him  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Thomas  Newmaster  of  the  Daedalus,  informing  Van- 
couver of  a  most  distressing  and  melancholy  event.  Lieutenant 
Hergest,  the  commander,  Mr.  William  Gooch,  the  astronomer, 
with  one  of  the  seamen  belonging  to  the  Daedalus,  had  been 
murdered  by  the  inhabitants  of  Woahoo,  whilst  on  shore  procur- 
ing water  at  that  island.  August  19th  they  proceeded  from  the 
last  station,  namely,  Point  Menzies,  in  latitude  52  deg.  18  min., 
longitude  232  deg.  55  min.,  and  on  the  28th  arrived  off  Nootka 
Sound.  The  Chatham,  by  the  partial  clearing  of  the  fog,  had 
found  her  way  in  some  time  before  ;  the  Daedalus  store-ship,  and 
a  small  merchant  brig  called  the  Three  Brothers,  of  London, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Alder  of  the  navy,  were  also  there  at 
anchor.  Seignor  Quadra,  with  several  of  his  officers,  came  on 
board  the  Discovery,  on  the  29th,  where  they  breakfasted,  and 
were  saluted  with  thirteen  guns  on  their  arrival  and  departure  ; 
the  day  was  afterwards  spent  in  ceremonious  offices  of  civility, 
with  much  harmony  and  festivity.  Maquinna,  the  native  chief 
of  Nootka,  who  was  present  on  this  occasion,  had  early  in  the 
morning,  from  being  unknown  to  them,  been  prevented  coming 
on  board  the  Discovery  by  the  sentinels  and  the  officer  on  deck, 
as  there  was  not  in  his  appearance  the  smallest  indication  of  his 
superior  rank.  Of  this  indignity  he  had  complained  in  a  most 
angry  manner  to  Seignor  Quadra,  who  very  obligingly  found  means 
to  soothe  him. 

Some  difficulties  now  occurred  in  respect  to  the  particulars  of 
the  restitution,  but  after  written  and  verbal  correspondence,  it 
was  agreed  that  the  objections  on  both  sides  should  be  referred 
to  the  respective  courts.  Seignor  Quadra,  however,  having 
thereafter  made  further  objections,  an  additional  correspondence 
took  place  ;  but  the  Spanish  officer  insisting,  and  being  positively 
resolved  to  adhei  3  to  certain  principles  proposed  by  him  as  to  the 


264  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 

restitution,  to  which  Captain  Vancouver  could  not  accede,  ,ae 
latter  acquainted  him  that  he  should  consider  Nootka  as  a  Spanish 
port,  and  requested  his  permission  to  carry  on  the  necessary  em- 
ployments on  shore,  which  he  very^  politely  gave,  with  the  most 
friendly  assurance  of  every  service  and  kind  office  in  his  power. 

It  was  not  till  the  12th  of  October  that  the  Discovery  sailed 
from  Nootka,  with  the  Chatham  and  Daedalus  store-ships,  bound 
to  the  southward.  November  15th  discovered  anchorage  in  a 
most  excellent  small  bay.  The  herds  of  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep 
grazing  on  the  surrounding  hills,  were  a  sight  they  had  long  b^en 
strangers  to,  and  brought  many  pleasing  reflections.  On  hoisting 
the  colors  at  sun-rise,  a  gun  was  fired,  and  in  a  little  time  after- 
wards several  people  were  seen  on  horseback,  coming  from  behind 
the  hills  down  to  the  beach,  who  waved  their  hats,  and  made  other 
signals  for  a  boat,  which  was  immediately  sent  to  the  shore,  and 
on  its  return  they  were  favored  with  the  company  of  a  priest  of 
the  order  of  St.  Francisco,  and  a  serjeant  in  the  Spanish  army  to 
breakfast.  The  good  friar,  after  pointing  out  the  most  convenient 
spot  for  procuring  wood  and  water,  and  repeating  hospitable  of- 
fers, in  the  name  of  the  fathers  of  the  Franciscan  order,  returned 
to  the  mission  of  St.  Francisco,  which  they  understood  was  at  no 
great  distance,  and  to  which  he  gave  them  the  most  pressing  in- 
vitation. 

Whilst  engaged  in  allotting  to  the  people  their  different  em 
ployments,  some  saddled  horses  arrived  from  the  commandant, 
with  a  very  cordial  invitation;  which  was  accepted  by  the  captain 
and  some  of  the  officers.  They  rode  up  to  the  Presidio,  an  ap- 
pellation given  to  their  military  establishments  in  this  country, 
and  signifying  a  safe-guard.  The  residence  of  the  friars  is  called 
a  mission.  The  Spanish  soldiers  composing  the  garrison  amount- 
ed to  thirty-five,  who,  with  their  wives,  families,  and  a  few  Indian 
servants,  composed  the  whole  of  the  inhabitants.  On  th*e  left  of 
the  church  is  the  commander's  house,  consisting  of  two  rooms 
and  a  closet  only,  which  are  divided  by  massy  walls,  and  commu- 
nicating with  each  other  by  very  small  doors.  Between  these 
apartments  and  the  outward  wall  was  an  excellent  poultry-house 
and  yard,  which  seemed  pretty  well  stocked;  and  between  the 
roof  and  ceiling  of  the  rooms  was  a  kind  of  lumber  garret;  these 
were  all  the  conveniences  the  habitation  seemed  calculated  to  af- 
ford. On  approaching  it  they  found  his  good  lady,  who,  like  her 
spouse,  had  passed  the  middle  age  of  life,  decently  dressed, 
seated  cross-legged  on  a  mat,  placed  on  a  small  square  wooden 
platform  raised  three  or  four  inches  from  the  ground,  nearly  in 
front  of  the  door,  with  two  daughters  and  a  son,  clean  and  decent- 
ly dressed,  sitting  by  her;  this  being  the  mode  observed  by  these 
ladies  when  they  receive  visitors.  The  decorous  and  pleasing 
behavior  of  the  children  was  really  admirable,  and  exceeded  any 
thing  that  could  have  bee  ;  expected  from  them  under  the  circum- 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  265 

stances  of  their  situation,  without  any  other  advantages  than  the 
education  and  example  of  their  parents,  which,  however,  seemed 
to  have  been  studiously  attended  to,  and  did  them  great  credit. 

The  next  day  was  appointed  for  visiting  the  mission.  Accom- 
panied by  Menzies  and  some  of  the  officers,  and  Seignor  Sal,  the 
captain  rode  thither  to  dinner.  The  uniform,  mild,  and  kind- 
hearted  disposition  of  this  religious  order  has  never  failed  to 
attach  to  their  interest  the  affections  of  the  natives,  wherever  they 
have  sat  down  amongst  them;  this  is  a  very  happy  circumstance, 
for  their  situation  otherwise  would  be  excessively  precarious;  as 
they  are  protected  only  by  five  soldiers,  who  reside  under  the  di- 
rections of  a  corporal,  in  the  buildings  of  the  mission  at  some 
distance  on  the  other  side  of  the  church.  The  natives,  however, 
seemed  to  have  treated  with  the  most  perfect  indifference  the  pre- 
cepts, and  laborious  example  of  their  truly  worthy  and  benevolent 
pastors.  Their  persons,  generally  speaking,  were  under  the  mid- 
dle size,  and  very  ill  made;  their  faces  ugly,  presenting  a  dull, 
heavy,  and  stupid  countenance,  devoid  of  sensibility  or  the  least 
expression. 

On  the  25th,  they  set  sail  for  Monterrey,  where  they  found  the 
Dredalus,  and  also  Seignor  Qaudra,  with  his  broad  pendant  on 
board  the  brig  Acteon.  He,  as  well  as  the  acting  governor, 
Seignor  Anquilla,  both  behaved  in  the  most  friendly  and  liberal 
manner.  They  sailed  on  the  14th  of  January,  and  on  the  12th 
of  February  arrived  off  the  north-east  point  of  Owhyhee.  Having, 
on  the  21st  of  February,  reached  Tyahtatooa,  Captain  Vancou- 
ver was  honored  with  a  visit  from  Tomaahmaah,  the  king  of  the 
island  of  Owhyhee,  a  chief  of  an  open,  cheerful,  and  sensible 
mind,  combined  with  great  generosity  and  goodness  of  disposition. 
He  was  accompanied  by  John  Young,  an  English  seaman,  who 
possessed  much  influence  with  him.  The  queen  and  some  of  his 
majesty's  relations  also  visited  on  board. 

They  were  much  pleased  with  the  decorum  and  general  con- 
duct of  this  royal  party.  Though  it  consisted  of  many,  yet  not 
one  solicited  even  the  most  inconsiderable  article,  nor  did  they 
appear  to  have  any  expectation  of  receiving  presents.  Being  de- 
termined that  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  preserve  the  harmony 
and  good  understanding  that  seemed  to  have  taken  place  between 
them,  and  having  learned  from  Young,  that  the  royal  visiters  did 
not  entertain  the  most  distant  idea  of  accepting  any  thing  from 
the  captain,  until  they  had  first  set  the  example;  he  considered 
this  a  good  opportunity  to  manifest  a  friendly  disposition  towards 
them  by  presents  suitable  to  their  respective  ranks  and  situations. 
Accordingly,  such  articles  were  distributed  as  they  knew  were 
likely  to  be  highly  acceptable  to  the  whole  party.  This  distribu- 
tion being  finished,  and  the  whole  party  made  very  happy,  the 
king,  in  addition  to  what  he  had  before  received,  was  presented 
with  a  scarlet  cloak,  that  reached  from  his  neck  to  the  ground, 

23 


266  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 

adorned  with  tinsel  lace,  trimmed  with  various  colored  gartering 
tape,  with  blue  ribbons  to  tie  it  down  the  front.  The  looking- 
glasses  being  placed  opposite  to  each  other,  displayed  at  once  tlie 
whole  of  his  royal  person;  this  tilled  him  with  rapt  «re,  and  so 
delighted  him,  that  the  cabin  could  scarcely  contain  him.  His 
ecstasy  produced  capering,  and  he  soon  cleared  the  cabin  of  many 
of  their  visitors  whose  numbers  had  rendered  it  very  hot  and  un- 
pleasant. 

Next  morning  they  reached  Karakakooa,  the  residence  of 
Tomaahmaah.  Besides  Young,  his  Owhyhean  majesty's  favorite 
before  mentioned,  there  were  here  also  John  Smith,  an  Irishman, 
who  had  deserted  from  an  American  trader,  and  Isaac  Davis,  who 
had  been  captured  by  the  islanders,  in  the  schooner  Fair  American. 
These  men  behaved  extremely  well,  and  had  been  taken  under 
the  special  patronage  of  Tamaahmaah,  who  was  much  irritated 
at  the  above  capture;  and  the  treatment  of  the  people  belonging 
to  the  schooner,  which  was  atrociously  taken  by  Tamamootoo,  a 
powerful  chief,  and  his  people,  but  which  Tamaahmaah  caused  to 
be  delivered  up1  to  them,  to  be  kept  for  the  benefit  of  the  proprietor, 
Mr.  Metcalf,  who  had  the  command  of  the  schooner,  was  thrown 
overboard  by  Tamaahmootoo,  who  took  out  of  her  every  thing  he 
could,  before  the  arrival  of  the  king  and  Young.  In  this  allair, 
Tianna  had  also  acted  a  scandalous  part,  endeavoring,  by  false 
insinuations,  to  prevail  on  the  king  to  kill  Young  and  Davis,  but 
his  arts  were  unsuccessful  on  his  majesty,  whose  sound  judgment, 
and  humane  attentions,  would  have  done  credit  to  the  sovereign 
of  a  more  civilized  people. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  as  soon  as  dinner  was  over,  they  were 
summoned  to  a  sham-fight  on  shore;  and  as  Tamaahmaah  con- 
sidered all  ceremonies  and  formalities  as  adding  to  his  conse- 
quence, he  requested  that  the  captain  would  be  attended  on  shore 
by  a  guard.  They  found  the  warriors  assembled  towards  the 
north  corner  of  the  beach,  without  the  limits  of  the  hallowed 
ground.  The  party  consisted  of  about  one  hundred  and  lit'ty 
men,  armed  with  spears;  these  were  divided  into  three  parties, 
nearly  in  equal  numbers;  two  were  placed  at  a  little  distance 
fiom  each  other;  that  on  the  right  was  to  represent  the  armies 
of  Titeeree  and  Taio;  that  on  the  left  the  army  of  Tamaahnmuh. 
Their  spears,  on  this  occasion,  were  blunt-pointed  sticks,  about 
the  length  of  their  barbed  ones,  whilst,  on  each  wing,  they  were 
to  suppose  a  body  of  troops  placed  to  annoy  the  enemy  with  stones 
from  their  slings.  The  combatants  now  advanced  towards  each 
other,  seemingly  withfout  any  principal  leader,  making  speeches 
as  they  approached,  which  appeared  to  end  in  vaunts  and  throats 
from  both  parties,  when  the  battle  began,  by  throwing  their  sham 
spears  at  each  other.  These  were  parried  in  most  instances  with 
great  dexterity;  but  such  as  were  thrown  with  effect,  produced 
contusions  and  wounds,  which,  though  fortunately  of  no  danger- 


CAITAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  267 

ous  tendency,  were  yet  very  considerable,  and  it  was  admirable 
to  observe  the  great  good-humor  and  evenness  of  temper  that  was 
preserved  by  those  who  were  thus  injured.  This  battle  was  a 
mere  skirmish,  neither  party  being  supported,  nor  advancing  in 
any  order,  but  such  as  the  fancy  of  the  individuals  directed. 
Some  would  advance  even  from  the  rear  to  the  front,  wtjere  they 
would  throw  their  spears,  and  instantly  retreat  into  the  midst  of 
their  associates,  or  would  remain  picking  up  the  spears  that  had 
fallen  without  effect.  These  they  would  sometimes  hurl  again  at 
the  foe,  or  hastily  retreat,  with  two  or  three  in  their  possession. 
Those,  however,  who  valued  themselves  on  military  achievements, 
marched  up  towards  the  front  of  the  adverse  party,  and  in  a 
vaunting  manner  bid  defiance  to  the  whole  of  their  adversaries. 
In  their  left  hand  they  held  their  spear,  with  which,  in  a  contemptu- 
ous manner,  they  parried  some  of  those  of  their  opponents,  whilst, 
with  their  right,  they  caught  others  in  the  act  of  flying  immedi- 
ately at  them,  and  instantly  returned  them  with  great  dexterity. 
In  this  exercise  no  one  seemed  to  excel  his  Owhyhean  majesty, 
who  entered  the  lists  for  a  short  time  and  defended  himself  with 
the  greatest  dexterity,  much  to  their  surprise  and  admiration,  in 
one  instance  particularly,  against  six  spears,  that  were  hurled  at 
him  nearly  at  the  same  instant;  three  he  caught  as  they  were  fly- 
ing, with  one  hand;  two  he  broke,  by  parrying  them  with  his 
spear  in  the  other;  and  the  sixth,  by  a  trifling  inclination  of  his 
body,  passed  harmless. 

This  part  of  the  combat  was  intended  to  represent  the  king  as 
having  been  suddenly  discovered  by  the  enemy,  in  a  situation 
where  he  was  least  expected  to  be  found;  and  the  shower  of  darts 
that  were  instantly  directed  to  that  quarter,  were  intended  to 
show  that  he  was  in  the  most  imminent  danger;  until  advancing 
a  few  paces,  with  the  whole  body  of  his  army  more  closely  con- 
nected, and  throwing  their  spears  with  the  utmost  exertion,  he 
caused  the  enemy  to  fall  back  in  some  little  confusion,  and  he 
himself  rejoined  the  English,  without  having  received  the  slight- 
est injury. 

The  consequences  attendant  on  the  first  man  being  killed,  or 
being  so  wounded  as  to  fall  on  the  disputed  ground  between  the 
contending  armies,  were  next  exhibited.  This  event  causes  the 
loss  of  many  lives,  and  much  blood,  in  the  conflict  that  takes 
place,  in  order  to  rescue  the  unfortunate  individual,  who,  if  car- 
ried off  by  the  adverse  party,  dead  or  alive,  becomes  an  immedi- 
ate sacrifice  at  the  morai.  On  this  occasion,  the  wounded  man 
was  supposed  to  be  one  of  Titeeree's  soldiers,  and  until  this 
unhappy  period  no  advantage  appeared  on  either  side;  but  now 
the  dispute  became  very  serious,  was  well  supported  on  all  sides, 
and  victory  still  seemed  to  hold  a  level  scale,  until,  at  length,  the 
supposed  armies  of  Taio  and  Titeeree  fell  back,  whilst  that  of 
Tamaahmaah  carried  off  in  triumph  several  supposed  dead  bodies, 


268  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 

dragging  the  poor  fellows,  (who  already  had  been  much  trample^ 
upon)  by  the  heels,  some  distance  through  a  light,  loose  sand;  and 
who,  notwithstanding  their  eyes,  ears,  mouth,  and  nostrils,  were 
by  this  means  filled,  were  no  sooner  permitted  to  use  their  legs, 
than  they  ran  into  the  sea,  washed  themselves,  and  appeared  as 
happy  and  as  cheerful  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

In  this  riot-like  engagement,  the  principal  chiefs  were  consid- 
ered to  bear  no  part;  and,  on  its  being  thus  concluded,  each 
party  sat  quietly  down  on  the  ground,  and  a  parley,  or  some  other 
sort  of  conversation  took  place.  The  chiefs  were  now  supposed 
to  have  arrived  at  the  theatre  of  war,  which  had  hitherto  been 
carried  on  by  the  common  people  only  of  both  parties;  a  very 
usual  mode  of  proceeding  among  these  islanders.  They  now  on 
both  sides  came  forward,  guarded  by  a  number  of  men  armed 
with  spears  of  great  length,  called  pallaloos.  These  weapons 
are  never  relinquished  but  by  death,  or  captivity;  the  former  is 
the  most  common.  They  are  not  barbed,  but  reduced  to  a  small 
point,  and  though  not  very  sharp,  yet  are  capable  of  giving  deep 
and  mortal  wounds  by  the  force  and  manner  with  which  they  are 
used.  The  missive  spears  are  all  barbed  about  six  inches  from 
the  point,  and  are  generally  from  seven  to  eight  feet  long. 

The  warriors  armed  with  the  pallaloos  now  advanced  with  a 
considerable  degree  of  order,  and  a  scene  of  very  different  ex- 
ploits commenced;  presenting,  in  comparison  to  what  before  had 
been  exhibited,  a  wonderful  degree  of  improved  knowledge  in 
military  evolutions.  This  body  of  men,  composing  several  ranks, 
formed  in  close  and  regular  order,  constituted  a  firm  and  compact 
phalanx,  which  in  actual  service  was  not  easily  to  be  broken. 
Having  reached  the  spot  in  contest,  they  sat  down  on  the  ground 
about  thirty  yards  asunder,  and  pointed  their  pallaloos  at  each 
other.  After  a  short  interval  of  silence,  a  conversation  com- 
menced, and  Taio  was  supposed  to  state  his  opinion  respecting 
peace  and  war.  The  arguments  seemed  to  be  argued  and  sup- 
ported with  equal  energy  on  both  sides.  When  peace  under  cer- 
tain stipulations  was  proposed,  the  pallaloos  were  inclined  towards 
the  ground,  and  when  war  was  announced,  their  points  were 
raised  to  a  certain  degree  of  elevation.  Both  parties  put  on  the 
appearance  of  being  much  upon  their  guard,  and  to  watch  each 
other  with  a  jealous  eye,  whilst  this  negotiation  was  going  for- 
ward; which,  however,  not  terminating  amicably,  their  respective 
claims  remained  to  be  decided  by  the  fate  of  a  battle.  Nearly  at 
the  same  instant  of  time  they  all  arose,  and,  in  close  columns, 
met  each  other  by  slow  advances.  This  movement  they  conducted 
with  much  order  and  regularity,  frequently  shifting  their  ground, 
and  guarding  with  great  circumspection  against  the  various 
advantages  of  their  opponents;  whilst  the  inferior  bands  were 
supposed  to  be  engaged  on  each  wing  with  spears  and  slings. 
The  success  of  the  contest,  however,  seemed  to  depend  entirely 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  269 

on  those  with  the  pallaloos,  who  firmly  disputed  every  inch  of  the 
ground,  by  parrying  each  other's  lunges  with  the  greatest  dexter- 
ity, until  some  to  the  left  of  Titeeree's  centre  fell.  This  greatly 
encouraged  Tamaahmaah's  party,  who,  rushing  forward  with 
shouts  and  great  impetuosity,  broke  the  ranks  of  their  opponents, 
and  victory  was  declared  for  the  arms  of  Owhyhee,  by  the  sup- 
posed death  of  several  of  the  enemies;  these  at  length  retreated; 
and,  on  being  more  closely  pressed,  the  war  was  decided  bv  the 
supposed  death  of  Titeeree  and  Taio;  and  those  who  had  the 
honor  of  personating  these  chiefs,  were,  like  those  before,  dragged 
in  triumph  by  the  heels  over  no  small  extent  of  loose  sandy  beech, 
to  be  presented  to  the  victorious  Tamaahmaah,  and  for  the  sup- 
posed purpose  of  being  sacrificed  at  his  morai.  These  poor  fell- 
ows, like  those  before  mentioned,  bore  their  treatment  with  the 
greatest  good  humor. 

Having  sailed  from  Owhyhee,  they  arrived  on  the  10th  of  March 
off  Mowee.  On  the  13th  they  were  honored  with  the  presence 
of  Titeeree,  who  was  considered  as  king  of  all  the  islands  to  the 
leeward  of  Owhyhee;  and  that  from  him  Taio  derived  his  author- 
ity. He  came  boldly  alongside,  but  entered  the  ship  with  a  sert 
of  partial  confidence,  accompanied  by  several  chiefs;  he  was 
greatly  debilitated  and  emaciated;  and,  from  the  color  of  his  skin, 
they  judged  his  feebleness  to  have  been  brought  on  by  an  excess- 
ive use  of  the  ava.  Amongst  the  articles  presented  to  him  on 
this  occasion,  was  a  cloak,  similar  to  those  given  Tamaahmaah, 
this  highly  delighted  him;  and  he  was  also  well  pleased  with  the 
other  presents  he  received. 

After  some  further  interchange  of  Civilities,  and  much  negotia- 
tion respecting  the  wished  for  peace,  Captain  Vancouver  sailed 
from  Mowee  the  18th  of  March,  having  Tomohomoho  on  board, 
and  on  the  20th  reached  Whyteetee,  in  Woahoo.  One  double 
canoe  only  made  its  appearance.  In  this  came  James.  Coleman, 
one  of  the  three  men  they  found  last  year,  left  by  Mr.  Kendrick, 
at  Attowai.  The  21st,  Coleman,  with  Tomohomoho  and  Ten- 
navee,  came  on  board.  The  two  chiefs  desired  the  captain  would 
attend  them  into  the  cabin;  where,  after  shutting  all  the  doors, 
they  informed  him  that  the  man  who  had  murdered  Mr.  Hergest, 
with  two  others  who  had  been  equally  active  and  guilty,  were  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  canoe,  and  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  se- 
curing them,  lest  any  thing  should  transpire,  and  they  should 
again  make  their  escape.  On  the  22d,  a  few  of  the  natives  were 
about  the  ship,  but  not  so  many  as  on  the  former  days.  After 
breakfast,  Coleman,  with  Tomohomoho  and  Tennavee,  came  on 
board.  The  two  latter  demanded  the  immediate  execution  of 
the  prisoners.  This,  however,  was  not  complied  with,  as  it  was 
deemed  right  that  they  should  again  be  accused  by  their  own 
chiefs,  in  the  presence  of  all*the  witnesses,  of  the  crime  with 
which  they  stood  charged,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  draw  from  them 

23* 


270  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER. 

a  confession  of  their  guilt,  and  to  renew  the  opportunity  which 
before  had  been  given  them,  of  producing  some  evidence  in  proof 
of  their  innocence.  Nothing,  however,  could  be  extorted  from 
any  of  them,  but  that  they  were  totally  ignorant  of  any  such  cir- 
cumstances having  ever  happened  on  the  island.  This  very  as- 
sertion amounted  almost  to  self-conviction,  as  it  is  not  easy  to 
believe,  that  the  execution  of  their  comrades,  by  Titeeree's 
orders,  for  the  same  offence  with  which  they  had  been  charged, 
had  not  come  to  their  knowledge,  or  that  it  could  have  escaped 
their  recollection.  Neither  the  captain  nor  the  officers  discovered 
any  reason,  from  the  result  of  this  further  examination,  to  retract 
or  alter  their  former  opinion  of  their  guilt,  or  of  delivering  them 
over  to  their  own  people,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  direc- 
tions of  their  chiefs. 

That  the  ceremony  might  be  made  as  solemn  and  awful  as  pos- 
sible, a  guard  0!"  seamen  and  mariners  were  drawn  up  on  that  side 
of  the  ship  opposite  to  the  shore,  where,  alongside  of  the  ship, 
a  canoe  was  stationed  for  the  execution.  The  rest  of  the  crew 
were  in  readiness  at  the  great  guns,  lest  any  disturbance  or 
cmnmotion  should  arise.  One  ceremony,  however,  remained  yet 
to  be  performed.  One  of  these  unfortunate  men  had  long  hair; 
this  it  was  necessary  should  be  cut  from  his  head  before  he  was 
executed,  for  the  purpose  of  being  presented,  as  a  customary 
tribute  on  such  occasions,  to  the  king  of  the  island.  They  were 
shocked  at  the  want  of  feeling  exhibited  by  the  two  chiefs  at  this 
awful  moment,  who,  in  the  rudest  manner,  not  only  cut  off  the 
hair,  but,  in  the  presence  of  the  poor  suffering  wretch,  without 
the  least  compassion  for  his  situation,  disputed  and  strove  for  the 
honor  of  presenting  the  prize  to  the  king.  The  odious  contest 
being  at  length  settled,  the  criminals  were  taken  one  by  one  into 
a  double  canoe,  where  they  were  lashed  hand  and  foot,  and  put 
to  death  by  Tannavee,  their  own  chief,  who  blew  out  their  brains 
with  a  pistol;  and  so  dexterously  was  the  melancholy  office  per- 
formed, that  life  fled  with  the  report  of  the  piece,  and  muscular 
motion  seemed  almost  instantly  to  cease. 

They  now  bade  adieu  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  made  the 
best  of  their  way  for  Nootka.  The  Discovery  arrived  the  20th  of 
May.  Mr.  Puget  had  arrived  with  the  Chatham  on  the  15th  of 
April,  and  departed  thence  the  18th  of  May,  according  to  his  in- 
structions, to  proceed  in  the  survey  of  the  coast.  In  the  course 
of  continuing  the  examination  of  the  coast,  they  met  with  some 
Indians  of  very  different  behavior  from  those  they  had  hitherto 
seen.  The  survey  was  continued  sedulously  till  the  5th  of  Octo- 
ber, when  both  vessels  returned  to  Nootka.  The  usual  ceremonies 
of  salutes,  and  other  formalities  having  passed,  accompanied  by 
Mr.  Puget,  Vancouver  waited  on  Senr.  Saavadra,  the  command- 
ant of  the  port;  who  said,  that  he  had  not  received  any  intelligence, 
either  from  Europe,  or  from  New  Spain,  since  their  departure 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  27 

from  hence  in  the  spring;   and  that  neither  the  Daedalus,  nor  any 
other  ship  with  stores,  had  been  tnere. 

Having  quitted  Nootka,  nothing  of  importance  occurred  till 
their  arrival,  on  the  19th,  in  Port  St.  Francisco.  They  were  soon1 
hailed  from  the  shore,  upon  which  a  boat  was  despatched  thither, 
and  immediately  returned  with  their  civil  and  attentive  friend, 
Seignor  Sal;  who,  in  addition  to  the  offers  of  his  services  and 
hospitality,  gratified  them  by  communicating  the  interesting  in- 
telligence of  the  state  of  Europe,  up  to  so  late  a  date  as  the  pre- 
ceding February.  In  proceeding  towards  Monterrey,  they  made 
so  little  progress,  that  they  wore  still  at  no  great  distance  from  St. 
Francisco  next  morning,  the  2oth;  when  a  vessel  was  descried 
to  the  north-north-west;  and,  on  standing  towards  her,  she  proved 
to  he  the  Daedalus.  On  the  1st  of  JNovember,  they  reached 
Monterrey  with  the  Daedalus. 

Having  anchored  before  another  Spanish  establishment,  Van- 
couver sent  Lieutenant  Swaine  to  inform  the  commanding  officer 
at  the  presidio  of  their  arrival.  The  next  morning,  accompanied 
by  Lieutenants  Puget  and  Hanson,  Vancouver  paid  his  respects 
on  shore  to  Seignor  Don  Phelipe  Goycochea,  the  commandant  of 
the  establishment  of  Santa  Barbara,  and  lieutenant  in  the  Spanish 
infantry.  The  pleasing  society  of  their  good  friends  at  the  mission 
and  presidio,  was  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  Friar  Vincente 
Sta.  Maria,  one  of  the  reverend  fathers  of  the  mission  of  Buena 
Ventura;  situated  about  seven  leagues  from  hence,  on  the  sea- 
coast  to  the  south-eastward.  At  eight  in  the  evening  they  anchor- 
ed in  fifteen  fathoms  water,  about  a  league  to  the  westward  of 
Bueria  Ventura.  Their  reverend  friend  expressed  great  satisfac- 
tion at  the  mode  of  his  return  to  the  mission;  and  said,  that  his 
voyage  hither  would  probably  lay  the  foundation  for  removing  the 
absurd  and  deep-rooted  prejudice  that  had  ever  existed  amongst  the 
several  tribes  of  Indians  in  his  neighborhood,  who,  from  their  earli- 
est infancy,  had  invariably  regarded  all  strangers  as  their  enemies. 

Nothing  of  consequence  occurred  till  their  arrival,  on  the  8th 
of  January,  1794,  at  Owhyhee,  off  the  Bay  of  Whyealea,  where 
their  return  was  proclaimed  by  shouts  of  joy,  and  they  were  visited 
by  Tamaahmaah,  rejoiced  to  meet  his  friends  at  this  his  favorite 
part  of  the  island.  Their  course  was  now  directed  round  the  east 
point  of  the  island,  and  as  they  worked  into  the  bay  of  Karakakooa, 
many  of  the  inhabitants  were  assembled  on  the  shores,  who  an^ 
nounced  their  congratulations  by  shouts  of  joy;  many  of  their 
former  friends,  particularly  of  the  fair  sex,  lost  no  time  in  testify- 
ing the  sincerity  of  the  public  sentiment  in  their  favor.  Young 
and  Davis  they  had  likewise  the  pleasure  of  finding  in  the  exercise 
of  those  judicious  principles  they  had  so  wisely  adopted,  and 
which,  by  their  example  and  advice,  had  so  uniformly  been  car- 
ried into  effect. 

On  Thursday  the  30th,  they  were  favored  with  the  company  of 


272  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER 


Terree-my-tee,  Crymamahoo,  Tianna,  and  some  other  chiefs, 
from  the  distant  parts  of  the  island.  Their  arrival  had  been  in 
consequence  of  a  summons  from  the  king,  who  had  called  the 
grand  council  of  the  island,  on  the  subject  of  its  cession  to  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain,  which  was  unanimously  desired.  These 
chiefs  brought  intelligence,  that  a  quantity  of  timber,  which  had 
been  sent  for  at  the  captain's  request,  was  on  its  way  hither;  it 
had  been  cut  down  under  the  direction  of  an  Englishman,  named 
Boyd,  formerly  mate  of  the  sloop  Washington,  but  who  had  re- 
linquished that  way  of  life,  and  had  entered  into  the  service  of 
Tumaahmaah.  He  appeared  in  the  character  of  a  shipwright, 
and  had  undertaken  to  build,  with  these  materials,  a  vessel  for 
the  king,  after  the  European  fashion;  but  both  himself  and  his 
comrades,  Young  and  Davis,  were  fearful  of  encountering  too 
many  difficulties,  especially  as  they  were  all  much  at  a  loss  in  the 
first  outset,  that  of  laying  down  the  keel.  This  afforded  Van- 
couver an  opportunity  of  conferring  on  Tamaahmaah  a  favor  that 
he  valued  far  beyond  every  other  obligation,  by  permitting  his 
carpenters  to  begin  the  vessel,  from  whose  example,  and  the  as- 
sistance of  these  three  engineers,  he  was  in  hopes  that  his  people 
would  hereafter  be  able  to  build  boats  and  small  vessels  for  them- 
selves. On  Saturday,  the  1st  of  February,  they  laid  down  the 
keel,  and  began  to  prepare  the  frame-work  of  his  Owhyhean 
majesty's  first  man-of-war.  The  length  of  its  keel  was  thirty-six 
feet,  the  extreme  breadth  of  the  vessel  nine  feet  and  a  quarter, 
and  the  depth  of  her  hold  about  five  feet;  her  name  was  to  be 
The  Britannia,  and  was  intended  as  a  protection  to  the  royal  per- 
son of  Tamaahmaah;  and  few  circumstances  in  his  life  ever  af- 
forded him  more  satisfaction. 

Some  solemn  religious  rites  being  now  to  take  place,  Captain 
Vancouver  had  frequently  expressed  to  Tamaahmaah  a  desire  of 
being  present  on  some  of  these  occasions;  and  he  now  informed 
him  he  had  obtained  the  consent  of  the  priests,  provided  he  would, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  interdiction,  attend  to  all  the  restric- 
tions which  their  religion  demanded.  The  restraints  imposed  con- 
sisted chiefly  in  four  particulars:  first,  a  total  seclusion  from  the 
company  of  women;  secondly,  partaking  of  no  food  but  such  as 
was  previously  consecrated;  thirdly,  being  confined  to  the  land, 
and  not  being  afloat  or  wet  with  sea-water;  and  fourthly,  not  re- 
ceiving, or  even  touching,  the  most  trivial  article  from  any  one 
who  had  not  attended  the  ceremonies  at  the  morai.  Their  prayers 
seemed  to  have  some  regularity  and  form,  and  they  did  not  omit 
to  pray  for  the  welfare  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  their  safe  and 
happy  return  to  their  native  country.  The  intermediate  day,  the 
13th,  and  the  second  night,  were  passed  in  prayer,  during  which 
they  found  no  difficulty  in  complying  with  the  prescribed  regula- 
tions, and  soon  after  the  sun  rose,  the  14th,  they  were  absolved 
from  any  further  attention  to  their  sacred  injunctions. 


CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER.  273 

The  cession  of  Owhyhee  to  his  Britannic  majesty  became  now 
an  object  of  serious  concern.  Some  little  delay  and  difficulty, 
however,  arose  from  the  absence  of  two  chiefs,  Commanow,  who 
from  local  circumstance*  could  not  quit  his  government,  and  Ta- 
maahmooto,  chief  of  Coarra,  the  person  who  had  captured  the 
Fair  American  schooner. 

At  one  of  their  evening  amusements  the  captain  was  very  well 
entertained.  This  was  a  performance  by  a  single  young  woman 
of  the  name  of  Packoo,  whose  person  and  manners  were  both  very 
agreeable.  Her  dress,  notwithstanding  the  heat  of  the  weather, 
consisted  of  an  immense  quantity  of  thin  cloth,  which  was  wound 
round  her  waist,  and  extended  as  low  as  her  knees.  This  was 
plaited  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  a  pretty  effect  to  the  varie- 
gated pattern  of  the  cloth;  and  was  otherwise  disposed  with* 
great  taste.  Her  head  and  neck  were  decorated  with  wreaths  of 
black,  red,  and  yellow  feathers;  but,  excepting  these,  she  wore 
no  dress  from  the  waist  upwards.  Her  ankles,  and  nearly  half 
way  up  her  legs,  were  decorated  with  several  folds  of  cloth,  wide- 
ning upwards,  so  that  the  upper  parts  extended  from  the  leg  at 
least  four  inches  all  round,  this  was  encompassed  by  a  piece  of 
net-work,  wrought  very  close,  from  the  meshes  of  which  were 
hung  the  small  teeth  of  dogs,  giving  this  part  of  her  dress  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  ornamental  funnel.  On  her  wrists  she  wore  brace- 
lets made  of  the  tusks  from  the  largest  hogs.  These  were  highly 
polished  and  fixed  close  together  in  a  ring,  the  concave  sides  of 
the  tusks  being  outwards;  and  their  ends  reduced  to  an  uniform 
length,  curving  naturally  each  way  from  the  centre,  were  by  no 
means  destitute  of  ornamental  effect.  Thus  equipped,  her  ap- 
pearance on  the  stage,  before  she  uttered  a  single  word,  excited 
considerable  applause  from  the  numerous  spectators,  who  observ- 
ed the  greatest  good  order  and  decorum.  In  her  performance, 
which  was  in  the  open  air,  she  was  accompanied  by  two  men,  who 
were  seated  on  the  ground  in  the  character  of  musicians.  Their 
instruments  were  both  alike,  and  were  made  of  the  outsides  or 
shells  of  large  gourds,  open  at  the  tops;  the  lower  ends  ground 
perfectly  flat,  and  as  thin  as  possible,  without  endangering  their 
splitting.  These  were  struck  on  the  ground,  covered  with  a  small 
quantity  of  dried  grass,  and  in  the  interval  between  each  stroke, 
they  beat  with  their  hands  and  fingers  on  the  sides  of  these  instru- 
ments, to  accompany  their  vocal  exertions,  which,  with  the  various 
motions  of  their  hands  and  body,  and  the  vivacity  of  their  counte- 
nances, plainly  demonstrated  the  interest  they  had,  not  only  in 
excelling  in  their  own  parts,  but  also  in  the  applause  which  the 
lady  acquired  by  her  performance,  advancing  or  retreating  from 
the  musicians  a  few  short  steps  in  various  directions,  as  the  na- 
ture of  the  subject,  and  the  numerous  gestures  and  motions  of 
her  person  demanded.  Her  speech,  or  poem,  was  first  began  in 
a  slow,  and  somewhat  solemn  manner,  and  gradually  became  en- 


274  CAPTAIN    G.    VANCOUVER 

ergetic,  probably  as  the  subject  matter  became  interesting;  until 
at  length,  like  a  true  actress,  the  liveliness  of  her  imagination 
produced  a  vociferous  oration,  accompanied  by  violent  emotions. 
*  These  were  received  with  shouts  of  great  applause;  and  although 
they  were  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  language  to  com- 
prehend the  subject,  yet  they  could  not  help  being  pleased  in  a 
high  degree  with  the  performance. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  Tamaahmaah,  King  of  Owhyhee,  in 
council  with  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  island,  assembled  on  board 
the  Discovery,  in  Karakakooa  bay,  and  in  the  presence  of  George 
Vancouver,  her  commander,  and  Lieutenant  Peter  Puget,  com- 
mander of  the  armed  tender  the  Chatham,  and  the  other  officers 
f  of  the  Discovery,  after  due  consideration,  unanimously  ceded  the 
island  of  Owhyhee  to  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  acknowledged 
themselves  to  be  subjects  of  Great  Britain. 

Thus  concluded  their  transactions  at  Owhyhee,  to  which  they 
bade  adieu  about  three  in  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  March.  They 
left  here,  however,  a  banditti  of  renegadoes,  that  had  quitted 
different  trading  vessels  in  consequence  of  disputes  with  their  re- 
spective commanders,  who  had  resorted  to  this  island  since  the 
preceding  year,  under  American  or  Portuguese  colors.  Amongst 
them  was  one  Portuguese,  one  Chinese,  and  one  Genoese,  but 
all  the  rest  appeared  to  be  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  as  seemed 
also  the  major  part  of  the  crew  of  the  brig  Washington,  although 
they  called  themselves  Americans.  With  Kavaheeroo  also  re- 
sided a  person  by  the  name  of  Howell,  who  had  come  to  Owhyhee, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk  on  board  the  Washington;  he  appeared 
to  possess  a  good  understanding,  with  the  advantages  of  an  uni- 
versity education,  and  had  been  once  a  clergyman  in  England, 
but  had  now  secluded  himself  from  European  society,  so  that  with 
Young,  Davis,  and  Boyd,  there  were  now  eleven  white  men  on 
the  island;  but,  excepting  from  these  latter,  there  Owhyhean 
friends  will  have  little  reason  to  rejoice  in  any  advantages  they  will 
receive  from  their  new  civilized  companions. 

After  visiting  some  other  parts  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  the 
ships  finally  bade  them  adieu  on  the  15th  of  March,  from  which 
period,  till  the  end  of  August,  the  whole  time  was  occupied  in  a 
very  extensive  and  minute  survey  of  the  coast  of  North-west 
America.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  one  great  object  o,f  the  voyage 
was,  namely,  to  ascertain  the  existence  of  a  north-west  passage, 
or  any  water  communication  navigable  for  shipping.  The  North 
Pacific,  and  the  exterior  of  the  American  continent,  within  these 
limits,  were  completely  examined,  and  it  was  proved  that  no  such 
communication  did  exist,  notwithstanding  the  assertions  of  Fuca, 
Fonte,  and  others,  on  that  subject.  On  the  2d  of  September,  the 
Discovery  anchored  in  Friendly  Cove,  Nootka  Sound,  where 
were  three  of  his  Catholic  majesty's  armed  vessels,  and  some 
English  and  American  traders. 


A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL.  275 

At  Monterrey  they  arrived  on  the  2d  of  November.  Having 
on  the  2d  of  December  quitted  it,  and  proceeded  southward,  they 
passed  the  three  Marias  Islands,  and  afterwards  the  rich  but  un- 
inhabited island  of  Cocos.  Its  produce  is  luxurious  and  abundant, 
as  are  also  fowl  and  fish.  They  afterwards  successively  passed 
the  Gallipagos  Islands,  Massafuero,  and  Juan  Fernandes.  On 
the  24th  of  March  they  gained  a  distant  view  of  the  lofty  coast 
of  Chili  to  the  westward,  in  latitude  32  deg.  53  min.,  and  at  a 
supposed  distance  of  forty  leagues,  the  immense  mountains  of  the 
Andes.  Their  destination  was,  however,  the  bay  of  Valparaiso, 
Tthich  they  reached  next  day. 

Nothing  particular  happened  in  the  voyage  round  Cape  Horn, 
and  thence  to  St.  Helena,  where  the  Discovery  arrived  on  the 
2d  of  July,  the  Chatham  having  got  thither  before  her.  Here,  in 
consequence  of  the  hostilities  with  Holland,  Captain  Vancouver 
took  a  Dutch  East  Indiaman,  the  Macassar.  On  the  12th  of 
September,  made  the  western  coast  of  Ireland;  when  having  seen 
the  Discovery  safely  moored  in  the  Shannon,  he  proceeded  to 
London,  resigning  the  command  of  the  ship  to  Lieutenant  Baker, 
and  taking  with  him  such  books,  papers,  and  charts,  as  were 
necessary  to  lay  before  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  relative  to 
the  services  performed.  In  the  course  of  this  long  voyage  of  four 
years  eight  months  an,d  twenty-nine  days,  the  Discovery  lost  by 
disease,  out  of  one  hundred  men,  only  one,  and  five  by  accidents; 
and  in  the  Chatham  not  one  died  from  disease  or  otherwise. 


A  VISIT  TO  ROCKALL. 
BY  CAPTAIN  HALL. 

It  was  a  fine  autumnal  morning,  just  a  week  after  we  had  sailed 
from  Lough  Swilly,  to  cruise  off  the  North  of  Ireland,  a  sail  was 
reported  on  the  leebeam.  We  bore  up  instantly,  but  no  one 
could  make  out  what  the  chase  was,  nor  which  way  she  was 
standing — at  least,  no  two  of  the  knowing  ones  could  be  found  to 
agree  upon  these  matters.  These  various  opinions,  however, 
presently  settled  into  one,  or  nearly  so — for  there  were  still  some 
of  the  high-spyers  who  had  honestly  confessed  they  were  puzzled. 
The  general  opinion  was,  that  it  must  be  a  brig  with  very  white 
sails  aloft,  while  tlwse  below  were  quite  dark — as  if  the  royals 
were  made  of  cotton,  and  the  courses  of  tarpawling, — a  strange 
anomaly  in  seamanship,  it  is  true,  but  still  the  best  theory  we 
could  form  to  explain  appearances.  A  short  time  served  to  dispei 


276 


A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL. 


these  fancies;  for  we  discovered,  on  running  close  to  our  myste- 
rious vessel,  that  we  had  been  actually  chasing  a  rock — not  a  ship 
of  oak  and  iron,  but  a  solid  block  of  granite,  growing  as  it  were, 
out  of  the  sea,  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  main  land  than,  I 
believe  any  other  island,  or  inlet,  or  rock  of  the  same  diminutive 
size,  is  to  be  found  in  the  world.  This  mere  speck  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  ^waters — for  it  seems  to  float  on  the  sea — is  only 
seventy  feet  high,  and  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  in  circum- 
ference. The  smallest  point  of  a  pencil  could  scarcely  give  it  a 
place  on  any  map  which  should  not  exaggerate  its  proportion  to 
the  rest  of  the  islands  in  that  stormy  ocean.  It  lies  at  the 
distance  of  no  fewer  than  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  miles 
very  nearly  due  west  of  St.  Kilda,  the  remotest  part  of  the 
Hebrides,  two  hundred  and  ninety  from  the  nearest  part  of  the 
main  coast  of  Scotland,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  from  the  north 
of  Ireland.  Its  name  is  Rockall,  and  is  well  known  to  those  Bal- 


Rockall. 

tic  traders,  which  go  north  about.  The  stone  of  which  this 
curious  peak  is  composed,  is  a  dark  colored  granite,  but  the  top 
being  covered  with  a  coating  as  white  as  snow,  from  having  been 
for  ages  the  resting-place  of  myriads  of  sea-fowl,  it  is  constantly 
mistaken  for  a  vessel  under  all  sail.  We  were  deceived  by  it 
several  times  during  the  same  cruise,  even  after  we  had  been  put 
on  our  guard,  and  knew  its  place  well.  I  reme/nber  boarding  three 
vessels  in  one  day,  each  of  which  in  reckoning  the  number  of 
vessels  in  sight  counted  Rockall  as  one,  without  detecting  their 
mistake  till  I  pointed  their  glasses  to  the  spot. 


A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL.  277 

As  we  had  nothing  better  on  our  hands  it  was  resolved  to  make 
an  exploring  expedition  to  visit  this  little  islet.  Two  boats  were 
accordingly  manned  for  the  purpose;  and  while  the  ship  stood  down 
to  the  leeward  of  it,  the  artists  prepared  their  sketch  books  and 
the  geologists  their  hammers,  for  a  grand  scientific  field  day. 

When  we  left  the  ship,  the  sea  appeared  so  unusually  smooth, 
that  we  anticipated  no  difficulty  in  landing;  but  on  reaching  the 
spot,  we  found  a  swell  rising  and  falling  many  feet,  which  made 
it  exceedingly  troublesome  to  accomplish  our  purpose.  One 
side  of  the  rock  was  perpendicular  and  smooth  as  a  wall.  The 
others  though  steep  and  slippery,  were  sufficiently  varied  in  their 
surface  to  admit  of  our  crawling  up  when  once  out  of  the  boat. 

But  it  required  no  small  confidence  in  our  footing,  and  a  dash 
of  that  kind  of  faith  which  carries  a  hunter  over  a  five-bar  gate, 
to  render  the  leap  at  all  secure.  A  false  step,  or  a  faltering 
carriage,  after  the  spring  was  resolved  on,  might  have  sent  the 
explorer  to  investigate  the  secrets  of  the  deep,  in  those  fathomless 
regions  where  the  roots  of  this  mysterious  rock  connect  it  with 
the  solid  earth.  In  time,  however,  we  all  got  up,  hammers, 
sketch-books,  and  chronometers  inclusive. 

As  it  was  considered  a  point  of  some  moment  to  determine  not 
only  the  position,  but  the  size  of  the  rock  by  actual  observations 
made  upon  it,  all  hands  were  set  busily  at  work — some  to  chip 
off  specimens — others  to  measure  the  girt  by  means  of  a  cord — • 
while  one  of  the  boats  was  sent  to  make  sounding  in  those  direc- 
tions where  the  bottom  could  be  reached. 

After  we  had  been  employed  for  some  time  in  this  manner,  we 
observed  a  current  sweeping  past  us,  at  a  considerable  rate,  and 
rather  wondered  that  the  ship,  which  was  fast  drifting  away  from 
us,  did  not  fill  and  make  a  stretch,  so  as  to  preserve  her  distance. 
But  as  the  day  was  quite  clear,  we  cared  less  about  this  addition 
to  the  pull,  and  went  on  with  our  operations.  I  forget  exactly  at 
what  hour  a  slight  trace  of  haze  first  came  across  the  field  of 
view.  This  soon  thickened  into  a  fog,  which  felt  like  a  drizzle, 
and  put  some  awkward  apprehensions  into  our  heads.  It  was  im- 
mediate^ decided  to  get  into  the  boats  and  return  to  the  Endy- 
mion,  bi,  by  this  time,  we  had  finished  all  our  real  work,  and 
were  only  amusing  ourselves  by  scrambling  about  the  rock. 

The  swell  had  silently  increased  in  the  interval  to  such  a 
height,  that  the  operation  of  returning  to  the  boats  was  rendered 
twice  as  difficult  as  that  of  disembarking;  and  what  was  a  great 
deal  worse,  occupied  twice  as  much  time.  It  required  the  greater 
part  of  half  an  hour  to  tumble  our  whole  party  back  again.  This 
proceeding,  difficult  at  any  season,  I  suppose,  was  now  reduced 
to  a  sort  of  somerset  or  flying  leap;  for  the  adventurer,  whose 
turn  it  was  to  spring,  had  to  dash  ofT  the  rock  towards  the  boat, 
trusting  more  to  the  chance  of  being  caught  by  his  companions, 
than  to  any  skill  of  his  own.  Some  of  our  Dutch-built  gentry, 

24 


278  A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL. 

known  in  the  cockpit  by  the  name  of  heavy-sterned  Christians, 
came  floundering  amongst  the  thwarts  and  oars  with  such  a  crash, 
that  we  half  expected  they  would  make  a  clear  breach  through 
the  boat's  bottom. 

As  none  of  these  minor  accidents  occurred,  we  pushed  off, 
with  our  complement  entire,  towards  the  ship;  but, 'to  our  aston- 
ishment and  dismay,  no  Endymion  could  now  be  seen.  Some 
said  "only  a  minute  ago  she  was  there!"  others  asserted,  as 

Positively,  that  they  had  seen  her  in  a  totally  different  direction, 
n  short,  no  two  of  us  agreed  as  to  where  the  frigate  had  last 
been  seen,  though  all,  unhappily,  were  of  one  mind  as  to  the  disa- 
greeable fact  of  her  being  now  invisible.  She  had  evidently 
drifted  off  to  a  considerable  distance;  and,  as  the  first  thickening 
of  the  air  had  destroyed  its  transparency,  we  could  see  nothing  in 
the  slightest  degree,  even  like  what  is  called  the  boom  of  a  vessel. 
The  horizon  was  visible — indistinctly  indeed;  but  it  was  certainly 
not  the  same  horizon  along  which  we  had  seen  the  ship  sailing 
but  half  an  hour  before.  The  atmosphere  had  something  of  that 
troubled  look  which  is  given  to  a  glass  of  water  by  dropping  a 
little  milk  into  it.  So  that,  although  there  was  no  fog  as  yet, 
properly  so  called,  there  was  quite  enough  of  moisture  to  serve 
the  unpleasant  purpose  of  hiding  the  object  of  our  search;  and  we 
remained  quite  at  a  loss  what  to  do.  We  rowed  to  some  distance 
from  the  rock,  supposing  it  possible  that  some  condensation  of 
vapor,  incident  to  the  spot,  might  have  cast  a  veil  over  our  eyes. 
But  nothing  was  to  be  seen  all  round. 

It  then  occurred  to  some  of  our  philosophers  that  as  dense  air, 
by  its  very  definition  (as  they  gravely  put  it),  is  heavier  than 
light  air,  it  might  so  happen  that  the  humid  vapors  had  settled 
down  upon  the  surface  of  the  sea,  and  that,  in  fact,  we  were 
groping  about  in  a  shallow  stratum  of  untransparent  matter. 
The  top  of  the  rock,  which  was  seventy  feet  higher,  it  was 
thought,  might  be  in  the  clear  region,  and  the  ship's  mast  heads, 
if  not  her  hull,  be  visible  from  thence.  There  was  a  sort  of 
pedantic  plausibility  about  the  technology  of  these  young  savans, 
which  induced  the  commanding  officer  of  the  party — a  bit  of  a 
dabbler  himself  in  these  scientific  mysteries — to  decide  upon  try- 
ing the  experiment.  At  all  events,  he  thought  it  might  amuse 
and  occupy  the  party.  So  one  of  the  men  was  landed,  the  most 
alert  of  our  number,  who  skipped  up  the  rock  like  a  goat. 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  on  our  look-out  man,  who  no  sooner 
reached  the  summit,  than  he  was  asked  what  he  saw,  with  an  im- 
patience that  betrayed  more  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  officers 
than  they  probably  wished  should  be  perceived  by  the  boats' 
crews. 

<c  I  can  see  nothing  all  round,"  cried  the  man,  <c  except  some- 
thing out  thereabouts" — pointing  with  his  hand. 

"What  does  it  look  like?" 


A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL.  279 

'*  I  am  afraid;  sir,  it  is  a  fog  bank  coming  down  upon  us."  And 
so  it  proved. 

The  experienced  eye  of  the  sailor,  who  in  his  youth  had  been 
a  fisherman  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  detected  a  strip  or 
extended  cloud,  hanging  along  the  verge  of  the  horizon,  like  the 
first  appearance  of  a  low  coast.  This  gradually  swept  down  to 
leeward,  and,  at  length,  enveloped  rock,  boats,  and  all,  in  a 
mantle  of  fog,  so  dense  that  we  could  not  see  ten  yards  in  any 
direction. 

Although  our  predicament  may  now  be  supposed  as  hopeless 
as  need  be,  it  was  curious  to  observe  the  ebbs  and  flows  in  human 
thought  as  circumstances  changed.  Half  an  hour  before,  we  had 
been  provoked  at  our  folly  in  not  having  left  the  rock  sooner;  but 
it  was  now  a  matter  of  rejoicing  that  we  possessed  such  a  fixed 
point  to  stick  by,  in  place  of  throwing  ourselves  adrift  altogether. 
We  reckoned  with  certainty  upon  the  frigate's  managing,  sooner 
or  later,  to  regain  the  rock;  and  as  that  was  the  only  mark  at 
which  she  could  aim,  it  was  evidently  the  best  for  us  to  keep  near. 

We  had  been  cruising  for  some  time  off  the  north  of  Ireland, 
during  which  we  observed  that  these  fogs  sometimes  lasted  a 
couple  of  days  or  even  longer;  and,  as  we  had  not  a  drop  of 
water  in  the  boats,  nor  a  morsel  of  provisions,  the  most  unpleas- 
ant forebodings  began  to  beset  us.  The  wind  was  gradually 
rising,  and  the  waves,  when  driven  against  the  rock,  were  divided 
into  two  parts,  which,  after  sweeping  round  the  sides,  met  again 
to  leeward,  near  the  spot  where  we  lay,  and  dashed  themselves 
into  such  a  bubble  of  a  sea,  that  the  boats  were  pitched  about 
like  bits  of  cork  in  a  mill-lead.  Their  motion  was  disagreeable 
enough,  but  our  apprehension  was,  that  we  should  be  dislodged 
altogether  from  our  place  of  refuge;  while  the  gulls  and  sea- 
mews,  as  if  in  contempt  of  our  helpless  condition,  or  offended  at 
our  intrusion,  wheeled  about  and  screamed  close  to  us,  in  notes 
most  grating  to  our  ears. 

While  we  were  waiting  in  this  state  of  anxiety  in  the  boats 
below,  our  faithful  watchman  perched  on  the  peak  of  the  rock, 
suddenly  called  out,  "  I  see  the  ship!"  This  announcement  was 
answered  by  a  simultaneous  shout  from  the  two  boat's  crews, 
which  sent  the  flocks  of  gannets  and  sea-mews  screaming  to  the 
right  and  left,  far  into  the  bosom  of  the  fog. 

An  opening  or  lane  in  the  mist  had  occurred,  along  which  we 
could  now  see  the  frigate,  far  off,  but  crowding  all  sail,  and  evi- 
dently beating  to  windward.  We  lost  as  little  time  as  possible 
in  picking  our  shivering  scout  off  the  rock,  an  operation  which 
cost  nearly  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  This  accomplished,  away  we 
rowed,  at  the  utmost  stretch  of  our  oars  towards  the  ship. 

We  had  hardly  proceeded  a  quarter  of  a  mile  before  the  fog 
began  to  close  behind  our  track,  so  as  to  shut  out  Rockall  from 
our  view.  This  we  cared  little  about,  as  we  not  only  still  saw  the 


A    VISIT    TO    ROCKALL 

ship,  but  trusted,  from  her  movements,  that  she  likewise  sa\v  the 
boats.  Just  at  the  moment,  however,  she  tacked,  thereby  prov- 
ing that  she  had  seen  neither  boats  nor  rock,  but  was  merely 
groping  about  in  search  of  her  lost  sheep.  Had  she  continued 
on  the  course  she  was  steering  when  we  iirst  saw  her,  she  might 
have  picked  us  up  long  before  the  fog  came  on  again;  but  when 
she  went  about,  this  hope  was  destroyed.  In  a  few  minutes  more 
we,  of  course,  lost  sight  of  the  frigate  in  the  fog;  and  there  we 
were,  In  a  pretty  mess,  with  no  ship  to  receive  us,  and  no  island 
to  hang  on  by! 

It  now  became  necessary  to  take  an  immediate  part;  and  we  de- 
cided at  once  to  turn  back  in  search  of  the  rock.  It  was  certain- 
ly a  moment  of  bitter  disappointment  when  we  pulled  round;  and 
the  interval  between  doing  so  and  our  regaining  a  resting-place, 
was  one  of  great  anxiety.  Nevertheless  we  made  a  good  land- 
fall, arid  there  was  a  wonderful  degree  of  happiness  attendant 
even  upon  this  piece  of  success.  Having  again  got  hold  of 
Rockall,  we  determined  to  abide  by  our  firm  friend  till  circum- 
stances should  render  Our  return  to  the  ship  certain.  In  the 
meantime  we  amused  ourselves  in  forming  plans  for  a  future  resi- 
dence on  this  desolate  abode,  in  the  event  of  the  ship  being  blown 
away  during  the  night.  If  the  weather  should  become  more 
stormy,  and  that  our  position  to  leeward  was  rendered  unsafe,  in 
consequence  of  the  divided  waves  running  round  and  meeting,  it 
was  resolved,  that  we  should  abandon  the  heaviest  of  the  two 
boats,  and  drag  the  other  up  to  the  brow  of  the  rock,  so  as  to  form, 
when  turned  keel  upwards,  a  sort  of  hurricane  house.  These,  and 
various  other  Robinson  Crusoe  kind  of  resources,  helped  to  oc- 
cupy our  thoughts,  half  in  jest,  half  in  earnest,  till,  by  the  increas- 
ed gloom,  we  knew  that  the  sun  had  gone  down.  It  now  became 
indispensable  to  adopt  some  definite  line  of  operations,  for  the 
angry  looking  night  was  setting  in  fast. 

Fortunately,  we  were  saved  from  farther  trials  of  patience  or 
ingenuity  by  the  fog  suddenly  rising,  as  it  is  called — or  dissipa- 
ting itself  in  the  air,  so  completely,  that,  to  our  great  joy,  we  gain- 
ed sight  of  the  ship  once  again. 

It  appeared  afterwards  that  they  had  not  seen  our  little  island 
from  the  Endymion  nearly  so  soon  as  we  discovered  her;  and  she 
was,  in  consequence,  standing  almost  directly  away  from  us,  evi- 
dently not  knowing  exactly  whereabouts  Rockall  lay.  This,  I 
think,  was  the  most  anxious  moment  during  the  whole  adventure; 
nor  shall  I  soon  forget  the  sensation  caused  by  seeing  the  jib-sheet 
let  fly,  accompanied  by  other  indications  that  the  frigate  was 
coming  about. 

I  need  not  spin  out  this  story  any  longer.  It  was  almost  dark 
when  we  got  on  board.  Our  first  question  was  the  reproachful 
one,  "  Why  did  you  fire  no  guns  to  give  us  notice  of  your 
position?" 


THE    SUBTERRANEAN    STREAM.  281 

"  Fire  guns?"  said   they — "  why,  we  have  done  nothing   but 
blaze  away  every  ten  minutes  for  these  last  five  or  six  hours." 
Yet,  strange  to  say,  we  had  not  heard  a  single  discharge! 


THE  SUBTERRANEAN  STREAM. 


BY    MRS.    HEMANS. 

Darkly  thou  glidest  onward 

Thou  deep  and  hidden  wave  ! 
The  laughing  sunshine  hath  not  looked 

Into  thy  secret  cave. 

Thy  current  makes  no  music — 

A  hollow  sound  we  hear, 
A  muffled  voice  of  mystery, 

And  know  that  thou  art  near  ! 

No  brighter  line  of  verdure 

Follows  thy  lonely  way  ! 
No  fairy  moss,  or  lily's  cup, 

Is  freshened  by  thy  play. 

The  halcyon  doth  not  seek  thee, 

Her  glorious  wings  to  lave ; 
Thou  know'st  no  tint  of  the  summer  sky, 

Thou  dark  and  hidden  wave! 

Yet  once  will  day  behold  thee, 

When  to  the  mighty  sea, 
Fresh  bursting  from  their  caverned  veins, 

Leap  thy  lone  waters  free. 

There  wilt  thou  greet  the  sunshine 

For  a  moment,  and  be  lost, 
With  all  thy  melancholy  sounds, 

In  the  Ocean's  billowy  host. 

Oh  !  art  thou  not,  dark  river ! 

Like  the  fearful  thoughts  untold, 
Which  haply  in  the  hush  of  night 

O'er  many  a  soul  have  rolled  ? 

Those  earth-born  strange  misgivings — 
Who  hath  not  felt  their  power? 

Yet  who  hath  breathed  them  to  his  friend, 
Ev'n  in  his  fondest  hour  ? 

They  hold  no  heart-communion, 

They  find  no  voice  in  song, 
They  dimly  follow  far  from  earth 

The  grave's  departed  throng. 

24* 


282  CAPTAIN 


. 


Wild  is  their  course  and  lonely, 
And  fruitless  in  man's  breast ; 

They  come  and  go,  and  leave  no  trace 
Of  their  mysterious  quest. 

Yet  surely  must  their  wanderings 
At  length  be  like  thy  way ; 

Their  shadows,  as  thy  waters  lost, 
In  one  bright  flood  of  day. 


CAPTAIN  INGLEFIELD'S  NARRATIVE. 

THE  Centaur,  captain  Inglefield,  and  four  ships  of  the  line, 
part  of  a  large  convoy  from  Jamaica  to  England,  foundered  at 
sea,  in  a  dreadful  hurricane,  in  September  1782. 

Captain  Inglefield,  and  the  officers  and  crew,  did  every  thing 
possible  for  the  preservation  of  their  lives  and  ship,  from  the  16th 
to  the  23d  of  September;  when  the  Centaur,  by  repeated  storms, 
became  a  wreck,  and  was  in  a  sinking  state.  Some  of  the  men 
appeared  perfectly  resigned  to  their  fate,  and  requested  to  be 
lashed  in  their  hammocks;  others  lashed  themselves  to  gratings 
and  small  rafts;  but  the  most  prominent  idea  was,  that  of  putting 
on  their  best  and  cleanest  clothes.  The  booms  were  cleared,  and 
the  cutter,  pinnace,  and  yawl  were  got  over  the  ship's  side. 
Captain  Inglefield  and  eleven  others  made  their  escape  in  the 
pinnace ;  but  their  condition  was  nearly  the  same  with  that  of  those 
who  remained  in  the  ship;  and  at  best  appeared  to  be  only  a  pro- 
longation of  a  miserable  existence.  "  They  were  in  a  leaky  boat, 
with  one  of  the  gunwales  stove,  in  nearly  the  middle  of  the  ocean, 
without  compass,  quadrant,  sail,  great  coat,  or  cloak;  all  very 
thinly  clothed,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  with  a  great  sea  running."  In 
half  an  hour  they  lost  sight  of  the  ship;  but  before  dark  a  blanket 
was  discovered  in  the  boat,  of  which  they  made  a  sail,  and  scudded 
under  it  all  night,  expecting  to  be  swallowed  up  by  every  wave. 
They  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  and  sixty  leagues 
from  Fayal. 

Their  stock  consisted  of  "  a  bag  of  bread,  a  small  ham,  a  single 
piece  of  pork,  two  quart-bottles  of  water,  and  a  few  French  cor- 
dials." Their  situation  became  truly  miserable,  from  cold  and 
hunger.  On  the  fifth  day  their  bread  "  was  nearly  all  spoiled  by 
salt  water;  and  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  allowance — one  biscuit 
divided  into  twelve  morsels,  for  breakfast;  the  same  for  dinner. 
The  neck  of  a  bottle  broke  off,  with  the  cork  in,  served  for  a 
glass;  and  this  filled  with  water,  was  the  allowance  for  twenty- 
four  hours  for  each  man.  This  was  done  without  partiality  or 
distinction.  But  they  must  have  perished  ere  this,  had  they  not 


CAPTAIN  INGLEFIELD'S  NARRATIVE.  283 

caught  six  quarts  of  rain-water:  and  this  they  could  not  have  been 
blessed  with,  had  they  not  found  in  the  boat  a  pair  of  sheets, 
which  by  accident  had  been  put  there." 

On  the  fifteenth  day  that  they  had  been  in  the  boat,  they  had 
only  one  day's  bread,  and  one  bottle  of  water  remaining  of  a 
second  supply  of  rain.  Captain  Inglefield  states:  "  Our  sufferings 
were  now  as  great  as  human  strength  could  bear;  but  we  were 
convinced  that  good  spirits  were  a  better  support  than  great 
bodily  strength;  for  on  this  day  Thomas  Matthews,  quarter- 
master, the  stoutest  man  in  the  boat,  perished  from  hunger  and 
cold.  On  the  day  before,  he  had  complained  of  want  of  strength 
in  his  throat,  as  he  expressed  it,  to  swallow  his  morsel;  and  in 
the  night  drank  salt  water,  grew  delirious,  and  died  without  a 
groan. 

"As  it  became  next  to  a  certainty  that  we  should  all  perish  in 
the  same  manner  in  a  day  or  two,  it  was  somewhat  comfortable 
to  reflect,  that  dying  of  hunger  was  not  so  dreadful  as  our  imag- 
ination had  represented.  Others  had  complained  of  the  symptoms 
in  their  throats;  some  had  drunk  their  own  urine;  and  all  but  my- 
self had  drunk  salt  water." 

Despair  and  gloom  had  been  hitherto  successfully  prohibited; 
and  the  men,  as  the  evenings  closed  in,  had  been  encouraged  by 
turns  to  sins,  a  song,  or  relate  a  story,  instead  of  a  supper.  This 
evening  it  was  found  impossible  to  do  either.  At  night  they  were 
becalmed,  but  at  midnight  a  breeze  sprung  up;  but  being  afraid 
of  running  out  of  their  course,  they  waited  impatiently  for  the 
rising  sun  to  be  their  compass. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  their  last  bread  and  water  had  been  serv- 
ed for  breakfast;  when  John  Gregory,  the  quarter-master,  declared 
with  much  confidence,  he  saw  land  in  the  south-east,  at  a  great 
distance.  They  made  for  it,  and  reached  Fayal  at  about  mid- 
night, having  been  conducted  into  the  road  by  a  fishing-boat: 
but  they  were  not,  by  the  regulation  of  the  port,  permitted  to  land 
till  examined  by  the  health  officers. 

They  got  some  refreshments  of  bread,  wine,  and  water  in  the 
bo£t,  and  in  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth  day  landed;  where 
they  experienced  every  friendly  attention  from  the  English  consul, 
whose  whole  employment  for  many  days  was  contriving  the  best 
means  of  restoring  them  to  health  and  strength.  Some  of  the 
stoutest  men  were  obliged  to  be  supported  through  the  streets;  and 
for  several  days,  with  the  best  and  most  comfortable  provisions, 
they  rather  grew  worse  than  better. 

A  court-martial  was  held  at  Portsmouth  on  the  21st  of  January 
1783,  on  the  loss  of  the  Centaur;  when  the  court  honorably  ac- 
quitted Captain  Inglefield,  as  a  cool,  resolute,  and  experienced 
officer;  and  that  he  was  well  supported  by  his  officers  and  ship's 
company;  and  that  their  united  exertions  appeared  to  have  been 
so  great  and  manly,  as  to  reflect  the  highest  honor  on  the  whole, 


234  A    MONKEY    TRICK. 

and  to  leave  the  deepest  impression  on  the  minds  of  the  court;— 
that  more  could  not  have  possibly  been  done  to  preserve  the  Cen- 
taur from  her  melancholy  fate. 


A  MONKEY  TRICK. 

IN  1818,  a  vessel  that  sailed  between  Whitehaven  and  Jamaica 
embarked  on  her  homeward  voyage,  and  among  other  passengers, 
carried  a  female,  who  had  at  the  breast  a  child  only  a  few  weeks 
old.  One  beautiful  kfternoon,  the  captain  perceived  a  distant  sail, 
and  after  he  had  gratified  his  curiosity,  he  politely  offered  his 
glass  to  his  passenger,  that  she  might  obtain  a  clear  view  of  the 
object.  Mrs.  B.  had  the  baby  in  her  arms;  she  wrapped  her  shawl 
about  the  little  innocent,  and  placed  it  on  a  sofa  upon  which  she 
had  been  sitting.  Scarcely  had  site  applied  her  eye  to  the  glass, 
when  the  helmsman  exclaimed,  "  Good  God!  see  what  the  mis- 
chievous monkey  has  done."  The  reader  may  judge  of  the 
female's  feelings,  when,  on  turning  round,  she  beheld  the  animal 
in  the  act  of  transporting  her  beloved  child  apparently  to  the  very 
top  of  the  mast!  The  monkey  was  a  very  large  one,  and  so 
strong  and  active,  that  while  it  grasped  the  infant  firmly  with  the 
one  arm,  it  climbed  the  shrouds  nimbly  by  the  other,  totally  un- 
embarrassed by  the  weight  of  its  burden.  One  look  was  sufficient 
for  the  terrified  mother,  and  that  look  had  well  nigh  been  her  last, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  the  assistance  of  those  around  her,  she 
would  have  fallen  prostrate  on  the  deck,  where  she  was  soon 
afterwards  stretched  apparently  a  lifeless  corpse.  The  sailors 
could  climb  as  well  as  the  monkey,  but  the  latter  watched  their 
motions  narrowly;  and  as  it  ascended  higher  up  the  mast  the  mo- 
ment they  attempted  to  put  a  foot  on  the  shrouds,  the  captain 
became  afraid  that  it  would  drop  the  child,  and  endeavor  to  escape 
by  leaping  from  one  mast  to  another.  In  the  meantime  the  little 
innocent  was  heard  to  cry;  and  though  many  thought  it  was  suffer- 
ing pain,  their  fears  on  this  point  were  speedily  dissipated  when 
they  observed  the  monkey  imitating  exactly  the  motions  of  a 
nurse,  by  dandling,  soothing,  and  caressing  its  charge,  and  even 
endeavoring  to  hush  it  asleep.  From  the  deck  the  lady  was  con- 
veyed to  the  cabin,  and  gradually  restored  to  her  senses.  In  the 
meantime,  the  captain  ordered  every  man  to  conceal  himself 
below,  and  quietly  took  his  own  station  on  the  cabin  stair,  where 
he  could  see  all  that  passed  without  being  seen.  This  plan  hap- 
pily succeeded;  the  monkey,  on  perceiving  that  the  coast  was 
clear,  cautiously  descended  from  his  lofty  perch,  and  replaced  the 
infant  on  the  sofa,  cold,  fretful,  and  perhaps  frightened,  but  in 


285 

every  other  respect  as  free  from  harm  as  when  he  took  it  up. 
The  humane  seaman  had  now  a  most  grateful  task  to  perform; 
the  babe  was  restored  to  its  mother's  arms,  amidst  tears,  and 
thanks,  and  blessings. 


CAPTAIN  KENNEDY'S  NARRATIVE. 

"  WE  sailed  from  Port  Royal,  in  Jamaica,  on  the  21st  day  of 
December,  1818,  bound  for  Whitehaven;  but  the  twenty-third 
day  having  met  with  a  hard  gale  at  north,  we  .were  obliged  to  lay- 
to  under  a  foresail  for  the  space  of  ten  hours,  which  occasioned 
the  vessel  to  make  more  water  than  she  could  free  with  both 
pumps.  Under  this  situation  we  set  sail,  in  hopes  of  being  able 
to.  make  the  island  of  Jamaica  again,  which  from  our  reckoning 
we  judged  lay  about  ten  leagues  to  the  eastward.  But  in  less 
than  an  hour's  time  the  water  overflowed  the  lower  deck;  and  we 
could  scarcely  get  into  the  yawl  (bein^  thirteen  in  number)  before 
the  vessel  sank;  having  only  with  mucn  difficulty  been  able  to  take 
out  a  keg  containing  ab  ut  sixteen  pounds  of  biscuit,  ten  pounds 
of  cheese,  and  two  bottles  of  wine;  with  which  small  pittance  we 
endeavored  to  make  the  land.  But  the  wind  continuing  to  blow 
hard  from  the  north,  and  the  sea  running  high,  we  were  obliged, 
after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  of  three  days,  to  bear  away  for 
Honduras,  as  the  wind  seemed  to  favor  us  for  that  course,  and  it 
being  the  only  visible  means  we  had  of  preserving  our  lives. 
On  the  seventh  day  we  made  Swan's  island;  but  being  destitute 
of  a  quadrant,  and  other  needful  helps,  we  were  uncertain  what 
land  it  was.  However,  we  went  on  shore,  under  the  flattering 
hopes  of  finding  some  refreshments;  but,  to  our  unspeakable  re- 
gret and  heavy  disappointment,  we  only  found  a  few  quarts  x>f 
brackish  water  in  the  hollow  of  a  rock,  and  a  few  wilks.  Not- 
withstanding there  was  no  human  nor  visible  prospect  of-finding 
water,  or  any  other  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  it  was  with  the  ut- 
most reluctance  the  people  quitted  the  island;  but  being  at  length 
prevailed  upon,  with  much  difficulty  and  through  persuasive 
means,  we  embarked  in  the  evening,  with  only  six  quarts  of  water, 
for  the  Bay  of  Honduras.  Between  the  seventh  and  fourteenth 
days  of  our  being  in  the  boat,  we  were  most  miraculously  sup- 
ported, and  at  a  time  when  nature  was  almost  exhausted,  having 
nothing  to  eat  or  drink.  Yet  the  Almighty  Author  of  our  Being 
furnished  us  with  supplies,  which,  when  seriously  considered,  not 
only  serve  to  display  his  beneficence,  but  fill  the  mind  with  admi- 
ration and  wonder.  Well  may  we  cry  out,  with  the  Royal  Wise 
Man — '  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him?  or  the 
son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him?1 


286 

"  In  the  evening  the  wild  sea-fowls  hovered  over  our  heads,  and 
lighted  on  our  hands  when  held  up  to  receive  them.  Of  these 
our  people  eat  the  flesh  and  drank  the  blood,  declaring  it  to  be  as 
palatable  as  new  milk.  I  eat  twice  of  the  flesh,  and  thought  it 
very  good. 

"  It  may  appear  very  remarkable,  that,  though  I  neither  tasted 
food  nor  drink  for  eight  days,  I  did  not  feel  the  sensations  of  hunger 
or  thirst;  but  on  the  fourteenth,  in  the  evening,  my  drought  often 
required  me  to  gargle  my  mouth  with  salt  water;  and  on  the 
fifteenth  it  increased;  when,  happily  for  us!  we  made  land,  which 
proved  to  be  an  island  called  Ambergris,  lying  at  a  small  distance 
from  the  main  land,  and  about  fourteen  leagues  to  the  northward 
of  St.  George's  Quay  (where  the  white  people  reside)  in  the  Bay 
of  Honduras;  though  the  want  of  a  quadrant  and  other  necessa- 
ries left  us  still  in  suspense.  We  slept  four  nights  on  this  inland, 
and  every  evening  picked  up  wilks  and  conchs  for  next  day's 
provision,  embarking  every  morning,  and  towing  along  the  shore 
to  the  southward.  On  the  first  evening  of  our  arrival  here  we 
found  a  lake  of  fresh  water,  by  which  we  lay  all  night,  and  near 
t  buried  one  of  our  people. 

"On  walking  along  the  shore  we  found  a  few  cocoa-nuts, 
which  were  full  of  milk.  The  substance  of  the  nuts  we  eat  with 
the  wilks,  instead  of  bread,  thinking  it  a  delicious  repast,  although 
eaten  raw — having  no  implements  whereby  to  kindle  a  fire. 
From  the  great  support  received  by  this  shell-fish,  I  shall  ever 
revere  the  name. 

"  On  the  third  day  after  our  arrival  at  this  island,  we  buried 
another  of  our  people,  which,  with  four  who  died  on  the  passage, 
made  six  who  perished  through  hunger  and  fatigue. 

"On  the  fifth  day  after  our  arrival  at  Ambergris,  we  happily 
discovered  a  small  vessel  at  some  distance,  under  sail,  which  we 
made  for.  In  the  evening  got  on  board  her;  and  in  a  few  hours 
(being  the  tenth  of  January),  we  arrived  on  St.  George's  Quay, 
in  a  very  languid  state. 

"  I  cannot  conclude  without  making  mention  of  the  great  ad- 
vantage I  received  from  soaking  my  clothes  twice  a  day  in  salt 
water,  and  putting  them  on  without  wringing. 

"It  was  a  considerable  time  before  I  could  make  the  people 
comply  with  this  measure;  though,  from  seeing  the  good  effects 
it  produced,  they  afterwards,  of  their  own  accord,  practised  it 
twice  a  day.  To  this  discovery  I  may  with  justice  impute  the 
preservation  of  my  own  life,  and  that  of  six  other  persons,  who 
must  have  perished  but  for  its  being  put  in  use. 


TOM  CRINGLE'S  LOG.  28? 


AS  FAST  AND  FAR  O'ER  WAVES  WE  FLY. 

As  fast  and  far  o'er  waves  we  fly, 
And  seen  beneath  the  distant  sky 

Our  native  land's  deep  shadows  fade, 
We  gaze  upon  the  wave  and  sigh, 

And  think  upon  the  absent  maid 
Who  sits  and  listens  to  the  wind, 
And  turns  the  dark  thought  in  her  mind, 
Of  what  may  be 
Our  lot  at  sea, 

Till  the  breeze  freshening  to  a  gale 
Calls  us  aloft  to  shorten  sail, 
Then  duty  bids  our  wishes  move, 
And  toil  diverts  our  souls  from  love. 

Sharply  its  breath  the  vessel  feels, 
Down  "on  her  groaning  side  she  heels ; 

Another  reef  is  taken  in — 
Loudly  the  dreadful  thunder  peals. 

Old  Ocean  echoes  to  the  din  : 
Beneath  the  blow 
She  rises  slow 

As  smart  the  helmsman  luffs  her,  then 
We  think  no  more,  but  feel  like  men, 
But  cheerly  to  our  duty  move, 
And  leave  the  future  hour  of  love.  ' 

'T  is  past ;  top-gallant  masts  ascend, 
O'er  tcfp  sail  yards  we  eraily  bend  ; 

The  loosened  sail  abroad  we  shake  ; 
Top  gallant  sails  aloft  we  send ; 

No  more  the  surges  o'ej  us  break  ; — 
Awhile  with  flowing  sheet  we  glide, 
Till  slow  we  feel  the  swell  subside, 

And  the  sea  slumber  like  a  lake. 
Then  thoughts  of  home 
Across  us  come, 

With  recollections  warm  and  clear, 
Our  anxious  hearts  we  fondly  cheer; 
Our  duty  o'er — our  wishes  move 
Again  from  toil  to  ease  and  love. 


TOM    CRINGLE'S    LOG. 

We  had  refitted,  and  been  four  days  at  sea,  on  our  voyage  to 
Jamaica,  when  the  gun-room  officers  gave  our  mess  a  blow  out. 

The  increased  motion  and  rushing  of  the  vessel  through  the 
water,  the  groaning  of  the  masts,  the  howling  of  the  gale,  and  the 
frequent  trampling  of  the  watch  on  deck,  were  prophetic  of  wet 


2G8  TOM  CRINGLE'S  LOG. 

jackets  to  some  of  us;  still,  midshipman-like,  we  were  as  happy 
as  a  good  dinner  and  some  wine  could  make  us,  until  the  old  gun- 
ner shoved  his  weather  beaten  phiz  and  bald  pate  in  at  the  door. 
"  Beg  pardon  Mr.  Splinter,  but  if  you  will  spare  Mi  Cringle  on 
the  forecastle  an  hour,  until  the  moon  rises  " — ("Spare,"  quotha, 
"  is  his  majesty's  officer  a  joint  stool?") — "  Why,  Mr.  Kennedy, 
why?  here,  man,  take  a  glass  of  grog."  "  I  thank  you  sir."  "  It 
is  coming  on  a  roughish  night,  sir;  the  running  ships  should  be 
crossing  us  hereabouts;  indeed,  more  than  once  I  thought  there 
was  a  strange  sail  close  aboard  of  us,  the  scud  is  flying  so  low, 
and  in  such  white  flakes;  and  none  of  us  have  an  eye  like  -Mr. 
Cringle,  unless  it  be  John  Crow,  and  he  is  all  but  frozen." 
"  Well,  Tom,  I  suppose  you  will  go" — Anglice,  from  a  first  lieu- 
tenant to  a  mid — 

"  Brush  instanter." 

Having  changed  my  uniform  for  shag  trousers,  pea-jacket,  and 
south-west  cap,  I  went  forward  and  took  my  station,  in  no  pleas- 
ant humor,  on  the  stowed  jib,  with  my  arm  around  the  stay.  I 
had  been  half  an  hour  there,  the  weather  was  getting  worse,  the 
rain  was  beating  in  my  face,  and  the  spray  from  the  stern  was 
splashing  over  me,  as  it  roared  through  the  waste  of  sparkling  and 
hissing  waters.  I  turned  rny  back  to  the  weather  for  a  moment 
to  press  my  hands  on  my  straining  eyes.  When  I  opened  them, 
I  saw  the  gunner's  gaunt,  high-featured  visage  thrust  anxiously 
forward;  his  profile  looked  as  if  rubbed  over  with  phosphorus,  and 
his  whole  person  as  if  we  had  been  playing  at  snap  dragon. 
"  What  has  come  over  you  Mr.  Kennedy?  who's  burning  the  blue 
light  now?"  "  A  wiser  man  than  I  must  tell  you  that;  look  for- 
*ward  Mr.  Cringle — look  there;  what  do  your  books  say  to  that?" 

I  looked  forth,  and  saw  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  jib  boom, 
what  I  have  read  of,  certainly,  but  never  expected  to  see,  a  pale, 
greenish,  glow-worm  colored  flarne,  of  the  size  and  shape  of  the 
frosted  glass  shade  over  the  swinging  lamp  in  the  gun-room.  It 
drew  out  and  flattened  as  the  vessel  pitched  and  rose  again,  and 
as  she  sheered  about,  it  wavered  round  the  point  that  seemed  to 
attract  it,  like  a  soap  suds  bubble  blown  from  a  tobacco  pipe,  be- 
fore it  is  shaken  into  the  air;  at  the  core  it  was  comparatively 
bright,  but  faded  into  a  halo.  It  shed  a  baleful  and  ominous  light 
on  the  surrounding  objects;  the  group  of  sailors  on  the  forecastle 
looked  like  spectres,  and  they  shrunk  together,  and  whispered 
when  it  began  to  roll  slowly  along  the  spar  where  the  boatswain 
was  sitting  at  my  feet.  At  this  instant  something  slid  down  the 
stay,  and  a  cold  clammy  hand  passed  around  my  neck.  I  was 
within  an  ace  of  losing  my  hold  and  tumbling  overboard.  "  Hea- 
ven have  mercy  on  me  what's  that?"  "  It's  that  sky-larking  son 
of  a  gun.  Jem  Sparkle's  monkey,  sir.  You  Jem,  you'll  Lever 
rest  till  that  brute  is  made  shark's  bait  of."  But  Jacko  vanished 
up  the  stay  again,  chuckling  and  grinning  in  the  ghastly  radiance, 


289 

as  if  he  had  bee.n  'the  Spirit  of  the  Lamp.'  The  light  was  still 
there,  but  a  cloud  of  mist,  like  a  burst  of  vapor  from  a  steam  boiler, 
came  down  upon  the  gale  and  flew  past,  when  it  disappeared.  I 
followed  the  white  mass  as  it  sailed  down  the  wind;  it  did  not,  as 
t  appeared  to  me,  vanish  in  the  darkness,  but  seemed  to  remain 
in  sight  to  leeward,  as  if  checked  by  a  sudden  flaw;  yet  none  of 
our  sails  were  taken  aback.  A  thought  flashed  on  me.  I  peered 
still  more  intensely  into  the  night.  I  was  not  certain.  "  A  sail, 
broad  on  the  lee  bow."  The  captain  answered  from  the  quarter 
deck — "  Thank  you,  Mr.  Cringle.  How  shall  we  steer?"  "Keep 
her  away  a  couple  of  points,  sir,  steady."  "  Steady,"  sung  the 
man  at  the  helm;  and  a  slow  melancholy  cadence,  although  a  fa- 
miliar sound  to  me,  now  moaned  through  the  rushing  wind,  and 
smote  upon  my  heart  as  if  it  had  been  the  wailing  of  a  spirit.  I 
turned  to  the  boatswain,  who  was  now  standing  beside  me,  "  Is 
thai  you  or  Davy  steering,  Mr.  Nipper?  if  you  had  not  been  there 
bodily  at  my  side,  I  could  have  sworn  that  was  your  voice." — 
When  the  gunner  made  the  same  remark,  it  started  the  poor  fel- 
low; he  tried  to  take  it  as  a  joke,  but  could  not.  "  There  may 
be  a  laced  hammock  with  a  shot  in  it,  for  some  of  us  ere  morning." 

At  this  moment,  to  my  dismay,  the  object  we  were  chasing 
shortened, — gradually  fell  abeam  of  us,  and  finally  disappeared. 
"  The  Flying  Dutchman."  "  I  can't  see  her  at  all  now."  "  She 
will  be  a  fore  and  aft  rigged  vessel  that  has  tacked,  sir."  And 
sure  enough,  after  a  few  seconds,  I  saw  the  white  object  length- 
en and  draw  out  again  abaft  our  beam.  "  The  chase  has  tacked, 
sir;  put  the  helm  down,  or  she  will  go  to  windward  of  us."  We 
tacked  also,  and  time  it  was  we  did  so,  for  the  rising  moon  now 
showed  us  a  large  schooner  with  a  crowd  of  sail.  We  edged* 
down  on  her,  when  rinding  her  manoeuvre  detected,  she  brailed  up 
her  flat  sails  and  bore  up  before  the  wind.  This  was  our  best 
point  of  sailing,  and  we  cracked  on,  the  captain  rubbing  his  hands 
— "  It's  my  turn  to  be  the  big  un  this  time."  Although  blowing 
a  strong  north-wester,  it  was  now  clear  moon-light,  and  we  ham- 
mered away  from  our  bow  guns,  but  whenever  a  shot  told  amongst 
the  rigging,  the  injury  was  repaired  as  if  by  magic.  It  was  evi- 
dent we  had  repeatedly  hulled  her,  from  the  glimmering  white 
streaks  along  her  counter  and  across  her  stern,  occasioned  by  the 
splintering  of  the  timber,  but  it  seemed  to  produce  no  effect. 

At  length  we  drew  well  upon  her  quarter.  She  continued  all  black 
hull  and  white  sail,  not  a  soul  to  be  seen  on  deck,  except  a  dark 
object  which  we  took  for  the  main  at  the  helm.  "  What  schooner 
is  that?"  No  answer.  "  Heave  to,  or  I'll  sink  you."  Still  all 
silent.  "  Serjeant  Armstrong,  dp  you  think  you  can  pick  off  that 
chap  at  the  wheel?"  The  mariner  jumped  on  the  forecastle,  and 
levelled  his  piece,  when  a  musket-shot  from  the  schooner  crushed 
through  his  skull,  and  he  fell  dead.  The  old  skipper's  blood  was 
up.  "  Forecastle  there!  Mr.  Nipper,  clap  a  canister  of  grape 

25 


290  TOM  CRINGLE'S  LOG. 


over  the  round  shot,  in  the  bow  gun,  and  give  it  to  him.'*  *'  A  f  t 
ay,  sir!"  gleefully  rejoined  the  boatswain,  forgetting  the  augury 
and  every  thing  else,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  lie  a 
twinkling,  the  square  foresail — topgallant — royal,  and  studding- 
sail  haulyards,  were  let  go  by  the  run  on  board  the  schooner,  as 
if  they  had  been  shot  away;  and  he  put  his  helm  hard  aport,  as 
if  to  round  to.  "Rake  him,  sir,  or  give  him  the  stern.  He  has 
not  surrendered.  I  know  their  game.  Give  him  your  broadside, 
sir,  or  he  is  off  to  windward  of  you,  like  a  shot.  No,  no,  we  have 
him  now;  heave  to,  Mr.  Splinter,  heave  to!"  We  did  so,  and  that 
so  suddenly,  that  the  studding  sail  booms  snapped  like  pipe  shanks 
short  off  by  the  irons.  Notwithstanding,  we  had  shot  two  hun- 
dred yards  to  the  leeward,  before  we  could  lay  our  maintopsail  to 
the  mast.  I  ran  to  windward.  The  schooner's  yards  and  rigging 
were  now  black  with  men,  clustering  like  bees  swarming,  her 
square  sails  were  being  close  furled,  her  fore  and  aft  sails  set,  and 
away  she  was,  dead  to  windward  of  us.  "  So  much  for  under 
valuing  our  American  friends,"  grumbled  Mr.  Splinter. 

We  made  all  sail  in  chase,  blazing  away  to  little  purpose;  we 
had  no  chance  on  a  bowline,  and  when  our  '  Amigo  '  had  satisfied 
himself  of  his  superiority  by  one  or  two  short  tacks,  he  deliberately 
took  a  reef  in  his  mainsail,  bawled  down  his  flying  jib  and  gaff  top- 
sail, triced  up  the  bunt  of  his  foresail,  and  fired  his  long  thirty-two 
at  us.  The  shot  came  in  our  third  aftermost  port  or  the  starboard 
side,  and  dismounted  the  carronade,  smashing  the  slide,  wounding 
three  men.  The  second  missed,  and  as  it  was  madness  to  remain 
to  be  peppered,  probably  winged,  whilst  every  one  of  ours  fell 
short,  we  reluctantly  kept  away  on  our  course,  having  the  gratifi- 
^cation  of  hearing  a  clear  well  blown  bugle  on  board  the  schooner 
play  up  "  Yankee  Doodle."  As  the  brig  fell  off,  our  long  gun 
was  run  out  to  have  a  parting  crack  at  her,  when  the  third  and 
last  shot  from  the  schooner  struck  the  sill  of  the  midship  port,  and 
made  the  white  splinters  fly  from  the  solid  oak  like  bright  silver 
sparks  in  the  moonlight.  A  sharp,  piercing  cry  rose  in  the  air 
— my  soul  identified  that  death-shriek  with  the  voice  that  I  had 
heard,  and  I  saw  the  man  who  was  standing  with  the  lanyard  of 
the  lock  in  his  hand  drop  heavily  across  the  breech,  and  discharge 
the  gun  in  his  fall.  Thereupon  a  blood-red  glare  shot  up  in  tin; 
cold  blue  sky,  as  if  a  volcano  had  burst  forth  from  beneath  the 
mighty  deep,  followed  by  a  roar,  and  a  scattering  crash,  and  a 
mingling  of  unearthly  cries  and  groans,  and  a  concussion  of  the 
air  and  the  water  as  if  our  whole  broadside  had  been  fired  at 
once. — Then  a  solitary  splash  here,  and  a  dip  there,  and  short 
sharp  yells,  and  low  choking  bubbling  moans,  as  the  hissing  frag- 
ments of  the  noble  vessel  we  had  seen  fell  into  the  sea,  arid  the 
last  of  her  gallant  crew  vanished  forever  beneath  that  pale  broad 
moon.  We  were  alone ;  and  once  more  all  was  dark,  wild  and  stormy. 
Fearfully  had  that  ball  sped,  fired  by  a  dead  man's  hand.  But 


NELSCLV,  291 

what  is  it  that  clings,  black  and  doubled,  across  the  fatal  cannon, 
dripping  and  heavy,  and  choking  the  scuppers  with  clotting  gore, 
and  swaying  to  and  fro  with  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  like  a 
bloody  fleece?  "Who  is  it  that  was  hit  at  the  gun  there?" 
"  Mr.  Nipper,  the  boatswain,  sir,  the  last  shot  has  cut  him  in  two." 


NELSON. 

Horatio,  son  of  Edmund  and  Catharine  Nelson,  was  born 
Sept.  29,  1758 — in  the  parsonage  house  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  a 
village  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  England.  He  was  never  of  a 
strong  body;  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  when  he  entered 
the  service  of  his  country,  the  ague,  which  at  that  time  was  one 
of  the  most  common  diseases  in  England,  had  greatlv  reduced 
his  strength;  yet  he  had  already  given  proofs  of  a  resolute  heart 
and  great  nobleness  of  mind. 

His  first  appointment,  was  on  board  the  Raisonnable,  com- 
manded by  his  uncle,  Capt.  Maurice  Suckling.  The  Raisonnable 
was  lying  in  the  Medway.  He  was  put  into  the  Chatham  stage, 
and  on  its  arrival  was  set  down  with  the  rest  of  the  passengers, 
and  left  to  find  his  way  on  board  as  he  could.  After  wandering 
about  in  the  cold,  without  being  able  to  reach  the  ship,  an  officer 
observing  the  forlorn  appearance  of  the  boy,  questioned  him;  and 
happening  to  be  acquainted  with  his  uncle,  took  him  home,  and 
gave  him  some  refreshments. — When  he  got  on  board,  Capt. 
Suckling  was  not  in  the  ship,  nor  had  any  person  been  apprised 
of  the  boy's  coming.  He  paced  the  deck  the  whole  remainder 
of  the  day,  without  being  noticed  by  any  one;  and  it  was  not  till 
the  second  day  that  somebody,  as  he  expressed  it,  "  took  compas- 
sion on  him." 

The  Raisonnable  having  been  paid  off*  shortly  afterwards,  he 
was  removed  to  the  Triumph,  a  seventy-four,  then  stationed  as  a 
guard-ship  in  the  Thames;  but  this  being  considered  too  inactive 
a  life  for  a  boy,  he  was  sent  a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies,  and  re- 
turned a  practical  seaman,  but  with  a  hatred  of  the  king's  servi.ce, 
and  a  saying  then  common  among  sailors — "  aft  the  most  honor, 
forward  the  better  man."  Being  reconciled  to  the  service,  he 
was  received  on  board  his  old  ship,  the  Triumph,  where  he  had 
not  been  many  months,  before  his  love  of  enterprise  was  excited 
by  hearing  that  two  ships  were  fitting  out  for  a  voyage  of  discov- 
.ery  towards  the  North  Pole.  By  his  uncle's  interest,  he  was 
admitted  as  coxswain  under  Capt.  Lutwidge,  second  in  command. 
They  sailed  from  the  Nore  on  the  4th  of  June  1773,  and  were 
away  about  three  years,  suffering  many  hardships  and  braving 


292  NELSON. 

many  dangers,  in  which  Nelson,  young  as  he  was,  displayed 
many  of.  those  qualities,  for  which  he  afterwards  became  so  re- 
markable. After  they  had  carefully  surveyed  the  barrier  of  ice 
extending  for  more  than  twenty  degrees  between,  the  latitudes 
of  80°  and  81  ' ',  without  the  smallest  appearance  of  any  opening, 
they  returned  to  England  and  were  paid  off. 

Nelson  was  then  appointed  to  the  Seahorse,  of  twenty  guns, 
then  going  out  to  the  East  Indies;  but  in  about  eighteen  months, 
he  experienced  the  effects  of  that  climate,  so  perilous  to  Euro- 
pean constitutions;  and  was  carried  home,  with  a  body  broken 
down  by  sickness,  and  spirits  which  had  sunk  with  his  strength. 
His  health  being  somewhat  improved,  he  was  appointed  acting- 
lieutenant  in  the  Worcester,  sixty-four,  then  going  out  with  con- 
vov  to  Gibraltar,  and  on  his  return,  passed  his  examination  for  a 
lieutenancy,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1777. 

The  next  day  Nelson  received  his  commission  as  second  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Lowestoffe  frigate  and  sailed  for  Jamaica.  On  the 
8th  of  December,  1778,  he  was  appointed  commander  of  the 
Badger  brig.  While  the  Badger  was  lying  in  Montego  Bay, 
Jamaica,  the  Glasgow,  of  twenty  guns  came  in  and  anchored 
there,  and  in  two  hours  was  in  flames,  the  steward  having  set  fire 
to  her  while  stealing  rum  out  of  the  after-hold.  Her  crew  were 
leaping  into  the  water,  when  Nelson  came  up  in  his  boats,  made 
them  throw  their  powder  overboard,  and  point  their  guns  upward: 
and,  by  his  presence  of  mind  and  personal  exertions,  prevented 
the  loss  of  life  which  would  otherwise  have  ensued.  On  the  1 1th 
of  June,  1779,  he  was  made  post  into  the  Hinchinbrook,  of  twen- 
ty-eight guns;  so  that  we  find  him,  before  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  twenty-one,  with  that  rank  that  brought  all  the  honors  of  the 
service  within  his  reach;  thoroughly  master  of  his  profession,  and 
his  zeal  and  ability  acknowledged  wherever  he  was  known.  He 
remained  in  the  West  Indies  about  five  years,  actively  employed, 
until  he  became  so  debilitated  that  he  was  compelled  to  ask  leave 
of  absence,  and  returned  home  with  Capt.  (afterwards  Admiral 
Cornwallis),  to  whose  care  and  kindness  Nelson  believed  himself 
indebted  for  his  life. 

His  health  was  not  thoroughly  established,  when  he  was  sent  to 
the  North  Seas;  and  on  his  return  to  the  Downs,  in  the  Albemarle, 
while  he  was  ashore  visiting  the  senior  officer,  there  came  on  so 
heavy  a  gale,  that  almost  all  the  vessels  drove,  and  a  store  ship 
came  athwart-hawse  of  the  Albemarle.  Nelson  feared  she  would 
drive  on  the  Goodwin  Sands:  he  ran  to  the  beach;  but  even  the 
Deal  boatmen  thought  it  impossible  to  get  on  board,  such  was  the 
violence  of  the  storm.  At  length,  some  of  the  most  intrepid  of- 
fered to  make  the  attempt  for  fifteen  guineas;  and  to  the  astonish- 
ment and  fear  of  all  the  beholders,  he  embarked  during  the  height 
of  the  tempest.  With  great  difficulty  and  imminent  danger,  he 
succeeded  in  reaching  her.  She  lost  her  bowsprit  and  foremast, 


.NELSON.  293 

but  escaped  farther  injury.  He  next  sailed  for  Canada,  and  dur- 
ing his  iirst  cruise  on  that  station,  captured  a  fishing  schooner, 
which  contained,  in  her  cargo,  nearlv  all  the  property  that  her 
master  possessed;  and  the  poor  fellow  had  a  large  family  at  home, 
anxiously  expecting  him.  Nelson  employed  him  as  a  pilot  in 
Boston  Bay,  then  restored  him  the  schooner  and  cargo,  and  gave 
him  a  certificate  to  secure  him  against  being  captured  by  any 
other  vessel.  The  man  came  off  afterward  to  the  Albemarle,  at 
the  hazard. of  his  life,  with  a  present  of  sheep,  poultry,  and  fresh 
provisions.  The  certificate  was  preserved  at  Boston  in  memory 
of  an  act  of  unusual  generosity ;  and  now  that  the  fame  of  Nelson 
has  given  interest  to  every  thing  connected  with  his -name,  it  is 
regarded  as  a  relic.  On  Nelson's  arrival  at  New  York,  Lord 
Hood,  on  introducing  him  to  Prince  William  Henry,  as  the  Duke, 
of  Clarence  was  then  called,  told  the  prince,  if  he  wished  to  ask 
any  questions  respecting  naval  tactics,  Captain  Nelson  could  give 
him  as  much  information  as  any  officer  in  the  fleet.  After  cruis- 
ing some  time  off*  the  Spanish  Main  and  making  many  captures, 
he  received  intelligence  that  the  preliminaries  of  peace  had  been 
signed,  and  he  returned  to  England,  at  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1783. 

"  I  have  closed  the  war"  said  Nelson,  in  one  of  his  letters, 
"  without  a  fortune,  but  there  is  not  a  speck  in  my  character. 
True  honor,  I  hope,  predominates  in  my  mind,  far  above  riches." 
He  did  not  apply  for  a  ship,  because  he  was  not  wealthy  enough 
to  live  on  board  in  the  manner  which  was  then  customary. 
Finding  it,  therefore,  prudent  to  economise,  on  his  half  pay,  he 
went  to  France.  In  March  1784 — he  was  appointed  to  the 
Boreas  twenty-eight  guns,  going  to  the  Leeward  Islands  on  the 
peace  establishment.  On  the  llth,  March  1787,  he  was  married 
to  the  widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet,  who  was  niece  to  Mr.  Herbert,  the 
President  of  Nevis — then  in  her  -eighteenth  year;  Prince  William 
Henry,  being  present,  gave  away  the  bride.  During  his  stay 
upon  this  station  he  had  ample  opportunity  of  observing  the 
scandalous  practices  of  the  contractors,  prize-agents,  and  other 
persons  in  the  West  Indies  connected  with  the  naval  service. 
These  accounts  he  sent  home  to  the  different  departments 
which  had  been  defrauded;  but  the  peculators  were  too  powerful; 
and  they  succeeded  not  merely  in  impeding  inquiry  but  even  in 
raising  prejudices  against  Nelson  at  the  board  of  Admiralty, 
which  it  was  many  years  before  he  could  subdue.  He  returned  to 
England  and  remained  principally  in  the  country,  with  his  family 
and  friends. 

On  the  30th  of  January  1793,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Aga- 
memnon of  sixty-four  guns,  and  ordered  to  the  Mediterranean 
under  Lord  Hood,  by  whom  he  was  sent  with  despatches  to  Sir 
William  Hamilton,  at  the  court  of  Naples.  Here,  that  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Neapolitan  court  commenced,  which  led  to  the  only 

25* 


294  NELSON. 

blot  upon  Nelson's  public  character.  Having  accomplished  this 
mission  Nelson  received  orders  to  join  Commodore  Linzie  at 
Tunis,  and  was  detached  with  a  small  squadron,  to  cooperate  with 
General  Paoli  and  the  Anti-Gallican  party  ia.  Corsica.  After  a 
successful  attack  of  the  fort  of  Bastia,  at  the  siege  of  Calvi,  a 
shot  struck  the  ground  near  him,  and  drove  the  sand  and  small 
gravel  into  one  of  his  eyes.  He  spoke  of  it  lightly  at  the  time, 
but  the  sight  was  lost.  Falling  in  with  the  Ca-Ira,  of  eighty-four 
guns,  and  Censeur,  seventy-four,  he  engaged  and  captured  both 
of  them.  In  1795,  Nelson  was  made  colonel  of  marines.  Sir 
John  Jervis  had  now  arrived  to  take  the  command  of  the  Medi- 
terranean fleet.  Nelson  sailed  from  Leghorn,  and  joined  the 
admiral  in  Fiorenzo  Bay?  and  the  manner  in  which  he  was  re- 
ceived is  said  to  have  excited  much  envy.  During  this  long 
course  of  services  in  the  Mediterranean,  the  whole  of  his  conduct 
had  exhibited  the  same  zeal,  the  same  indefatigable  energy,  the 
same  intuitive  judgment,  the  same  prompt  and  unerring  deci- 
sion, which  characterized  his  after  career  of  glory.  On  one 
occasion,  and  only  one,  Nelson  was  able  to  impede  Buonaparte. 
Six  vessels,  laden  with  cannon  and  ordinance-stones  for  the  siege 
of  Mantua,  sailed  from  Toulon  for  St.  Pier  d'  Arena.  He  drove 
them  under  a  battery,  pursued  them,  silenced  the  batteries,  and 
captured  the  whole.  Nelson  was  now  ordered  to  hoist  his  broad 
pennant  on  board  the  Minerve  frigate  and  proceed  to  Porto 
Ferrajo.  On  his  way,  he  captured  the  Sabina,  Spanish  frigate, 
after  an  action  of  three  hours,  during  which  the  enemy  lost  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  men.  Another  enemy's  frigate  coming 
Up,  compelled  him  to  cast  off  the  prize,  and  after  half  an  hour's 
trial  of  strength,  this  new  antagonist  wore  and  hauled  off.  He 
sailed  from  Porto  Ferrajo  with  a  convoy  for  Gibraltar  and  fell  in 
with  the  Spanish  fleet  off  the  Straits,  on  the  13th  of  February 
1797,  and  communicated  this  intelligence  to  the  Admiral. 

He  was  now  directed  to  shift  his  broad  pennant  on  board  the 
Captain,  seventy-four,  Captain  R.  W.  Miller;  and,  before  sun- 
set, the  signal  was  made  to  prepare  for  action,  and  to  keep,  dur- 
ing the  night,  in  close  order.  At  daybreak  the  enemy  were  in 
sight.  The  British  force  consisted  of  two  ships  of  one  hundred 
guns,  two  of  ninety-eight,  two  of  ninety,  eight  of  seventy-four, 
and  one  sixty-four:  fifteen  of  the  line  in  all;  with  four  frigates,  a 
sloop  and  a  cutter.  The  Spaniards  had  one  four-decker,  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  guns;  six  three-deckers,  of  one  hundred 
and  twelve;  two  eighty-fours;  eighteen  seventy-fours;  in  all, 
twenty-seven  ships  of  the  line,  with  ten  frigates  and  a  brig. 
When  the  morning  of  the  14th  broke,  and  discovered  the  English 
fleet,  a  fog  for  some  time  concealed  their  number.  Soon  after  day- 
light the  Spanish  fleet  were  seen  very  much  scattered,  while  the 
British  ships  were  in  a  compact  little  body.  Before  the  enemy 
«ould  form  a  regular  order  of  battle,  Sir  J.  Jervis,  by  carrying 


NELSON.  295 

a  press  of  sail,  came  up  with  them,  passed  through  their  fleet,  then 
tacked,  and  thus  cut  off  nine  of  their  ships  from  the  main  body. 
These  ships  attempted  to  form  on  the  larboard  tack,  either  with  a 
design  of  passing  through  the  British  line,  or  to  leeward  of  it, 
and  thus  rejoining  their  friends.  Only  one  of  them  succeeded  in 
this  attempt;  and  that  only  because  she  was  so  covered  with 
smoke  that  her  intention  was  not  discovered  till  she  had  reached 
the  rear:  the  others  were  so  warmly  received,  that  they  put  about, 
took  to  flight,  and  did  not  appear  again  in  the  action  till  its  close. 
The  admiral  was  now  able  to  direct  his  attention  to  the  enemy's 
main  body,  which  was  still  superior  in  number  to  his  whole  fleet, 
and  more  so  in  weight  of  metal.  He  made  sfgnal  to  tack  in  suc- 
cession. Nelson,  whose  station  was  in  the  rear  of  the  British 
line,  perceived  that  the  Spaniards  were  bearing  up  before  the 
wind,  with  an  intention  of  forming  their  line,  going  large,  and 
joining  their  separated  ships,  or  else,  of  getting  off  without  an 
engagement.  To  prevent  either  of  these  schemes,  he  disobeyed 
the  signal  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  and  ordered  his  ship  to 
be  wore.  This  at  once  brought  him  into  action  with  the  Santissi- 
ma  Trinidad,  one  hundred  and  thirty-six,  the  San  Joseph,  one 
hundred  and  twelve,  the  Salvador  del  Mundo,  one  hundred  and 
twelve,  the  St.  Nicolas,  eighty,  the  San  Isidro,  seventy-four, 
another  seventy-four,  and  another  first-rate.  Captain  Trowbridge, 
in  the  Culloden,  immediately  joined,  and  most  nobly  supported 
him,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  did  the  Culloden  and  Captain  main- 
tain what  Nelson  called  "  this  apparently,  but  not  really,  unequal 
contest;" — such  was  the  advantage  of  skill  and  discipline,  and 
the  confidence  which  brave  men  derive  from  them. — The  Blenheim 
then  passing  between  them  and  the  enemy,  gave  them  a  respite, 
and  poured  in  her  fire  upon  the  Spaniards.  The  Salvador  del 
Mundo  and  .S.  Isidro  dropped  astern,  and  were  fired  into,  in  a 
.masterly  style,  by  the  Excellent  Captain  Collingwood.  The  S. 
Isidro  struck;  and  Nelson  thought  that  the  Salvador  struck  also; 
"'But  Collingwood,"  says  he,  "disdaining  the  parade  of  taking 
possession  of  beaten  enemies,  most  gallantly  pushed  up,  with 
every  sail  set,  to  save  his  old  friend  and  messmate,  who  was,  to 
appearance,  in  a  critical  situation,"  for  the  Captain  was  at  this 
time  actually  fired  upon  by  three  first-rates,, by  the  S.  JNicolas, 
and  by  a  seventy-four  within  about  pistol-shot  of  that  vessel. 
The  Blenheim  was  ahead,  the  Culloden  crippled  and  astern. 
'Collingwood  ranged  up,  and  hauling  up  his  mainsail  just  astern, 
passed  within  ten  feet  of  the  S.  Nicolas,  giving  her  a  most  tre- 
mendous fire,  then  passed  on  for  the  Santissima  Trinidad.  The 
S.  Nicolas  luffing  up,  the  S.  Joseph  fell  on  board  her  and  Nelson 
resumed  his  station  abreast  of  them,  and  close  along-side.  The 
Captain  was  now  incapable  of  farther  service  either  in  the  line  or 
in  chase:  she  had  lost  her  fore-topmast;  not  a  sail,  shroud,  or 
'•  rope  was  left,  and  her  wheel  was  shot  away.  Nelson,  therefore, 


296  NELSON. 

directed  Captain  Miller  to  put  the  helm  a-starboard,  and,  calling 
for  the  borders,  ordered  them  to  board.  Captain  Berry,  who  had 
lately  been  Nelson's  first  lieutenant,  was  the  first  man  who  leap- 
ed into  the  enemy's  mizen-chains.  Miller,  when  in  the  very  act 
of  going,  was  ordered  by  Nelson  to  remain.  Berry  was  support- 
ed from  the  spritsail-yard,  which  locked  in  the  S.  Nicolas's  main 
rigging.  A  soldier  of  the  sixty-ninth  broke  the  upper  quarter- 
gallery  window,  and  jumped  in,  followed  by  the  Commodore  him- 
self, and  by  others  as  fast  as  possible.  The  cabin-doors  were 
fastened,  and  the  Spanish  officers  fired  their  pistols  at  them 
through  the  window:  the  doors  were  soon  forced,  and  the  Span- 
ish brigadier  fell  wliile  retreating  to  the  quarter-deck.  Nelson 
pushed  on,  and  found  Berry  in  possession  of  the  poop,  and  the 
Spanish  ensign  hauling  down.  He  passed  on  to  the  forecastle, 
where  he  met  two  or  three  Spanish  officers,  and  received  their 
swords. — The  English  were  now  in  full  possession  of  every  part 
of  the  ship;  and  a  fire  of  pistols  and  musketry  opened  upon  them 
from  the  admiral's  "stern  gallery  of  the  San  Joseph.  Nelson 
having  placed  sentinels  at  the  different  ladders,  and  ordered  Cap- 
tain Miller  to  send  more  men  into  the  prize,  gave  orders  for 
boarding  that  ship  from  the  San  Nicolas.  Berry  assisted  him 
into  the  main-chains;  and  at  that  moment  a  Spanish  officer  looked 
over  the  quarter-deck-rail,  and  said  they  surrendered.  It  was 
not  long  before  he  was  on  the  quarter-deck,  where  the  Spanish 
captain  presented  to  him  his  sword,  and  told  him  the  admiral 
was  below,  dying  of  his  wounds.  There,  on  the  quarter-deck  of 
an  enemy's  first-rate,  he  received  the  swords  of  the  officers;  giv- 
ing them,  as  they  were  delivered,  one  by  one,  to  William  Fearney, 
one  of  his  old  Agamemnon's,  who,  with  the  utmost  coolness,  put 
them  under  his  arm;  "  bundling  them  up,"  in  the  lively  expres- 
sion of  Collingwood,  "  with  as  much  composure,  as  he  would 
have  made  a  fagot,  though  twenty-two  sail  of  their  line  were  still 
within  gunshot."  Twenty-four  of  the  Captain's  men  were  killed, 
and  fifty-six  wounded;  a  fourth  part  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the 
whole  squadron  falling  upon  this  ship.  Nelson  received  only  a 
few  bruises.  The  Spaniards  had  still  eighteen  or  nineteen  ships, 
which  had  suffered  little  or  no  injury;  but  they  declined  continu- 
ing the  action;  and  the  British  admiral  made  signal  to  bring 
to.  Nelson  went  on  board  the  admiral's  ship,  and  Sir  John  Jervis 
received  him  on  the  quarter  deck,  took  him  in  his  arms,  and  said 
he  could  not  sufficiently  thank  him.  For  this  victory,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  was  rewarded  with  the  title  of  Earl  St.  Vincent. 
Nelson,  who,  before  the  action  was  known  in  England,  had  been 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  had  the  Order  of  the  Bath 
given  him. 

Sir  Horatio,  who  had  now  hoisted  his  flag  as  rear-admiral  of 
the  blue  in  the  Theseus,  was  employed  in  the  command  of  the 
inner  squadron  at  the  blockade  of  Cadiz  During  this  service, 


NELSON.  297 

the  most  perilous  action  occurred  in  which  he  was  ever  engaged. 
Making  a  night-attack  upon  the  Spanish  gunboats,  his  barge  was 
attacked  by  an  armed  launch,  under  their  commander,  D.  Miguel 
Tregoyen,  carrying  twenty-six  men.  Nelson  had  with  him  only 
his  ten  bargemen,  Captain  Freemantle,  and  his  coxswain,  John 
Sykes,  an  old  and  faithful  follower,  who  twice  saved  the  life  of  his 
admiral,  by  parrying  the  blows  that  were  aimed  at  him,  and,  at 
last,  actually  interposed  his  own  head  to  receive  the  blow  of  a 
Spanish  sabre,  which  he  could  not  by  any  other  means  avert; — 
thus  dearly  was  Nelson  beloved.  Nelson  always  considered  that 
his  personal  courage  was  more  conspicuous  on  this  occasion  than 
on  any  other  during  his  whole  life.  Notwithstanding  the  great 
disproportion  of  numbers,  eighteen  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  all 
the  rest  wounded,  and  their  launch  taken. 

Twelve  days  after  this  rencounter,  Nelson  sailed  at  the  head 
of  an  expedition  against  Teneriflfe.  Owing  to  disadvantages  of 
wind  and  tide,  this  expedition  did  not  prove  entirely  successful. 
In  the  act  of  stepping  out  of  one  of  the  boats,  Nelson  received  a 
shot  through  the  right  elbow,  and  fell.  He  was  placed  at  the 
bottom  of  the  boat,  and  on  being  conveyed  on  board  the  Theseus, 
exclaimed  "  Tell  the  surgeon  to  make  haste  and  get  his  instru- 
ments. I  know  I  must  lose  my  right  arm,  so  the  sooner  it  is  off 
the  better."  Nelson  made  no  mention  of  it  in  his  official  des- 
patches. The  total  loss  of  the  English,  in  killed,  wounded  and 
drowned,  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  fifty — After  his  arrival 
in  England,  his  sufferings  from  the  lost  limb  were  long  and 
painful. 

Early  in  the  year  1798,  Nelson  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Vanguard, 
and  was  ordered  to  rejoin  Earl  St.  Vincent.  Immediately  on  his 
rejoining  the  fleet,  he  was  despatched  to  the  Mediterranean,  to 
ascertain,  if  possible,  the  object,  of  the  great  expedition  which  at 
that  time  was  fitting  out,  under  Buonaparte,  at  Toulon.  The  arma- 
ment at  Toulon  consisted  of  thirteen  ships  of  the  line,  seven 
forty-gun  frigates,  with  twenty-four  smaller  vessels  of  war,  and 
nearly  two  hundred  transports.  Nelson  sailed  from  Gibraltar  on 
the  9th  of  May,  with  three  seventy-fours;  four  frigates;  and  one 
sloop  of  war;  to  watch  this  formidable  armament.  On  the  19th, 
the  fleet  experienced  much  damage  from  a  tempestuous  gale,  in 
the  Gulf  of  Lyons.  While  in  the  harbor  of  St.  Pietro,  he  receiv- 
ed a  reinforcement  from  Earl  St.  Vincent  of  the  best  ships  of  his 
fleet;  the  Culloden,  seventy-four,  Captain  T.  Trowbridge;  Goliah, 
seventy-four,  Captain  T.  Louis;  Defence,  seventv-four,  Captain 
John  Peyton;  Bellerophon,  seventy-four,  Captain  H.  D.  E.  Darby; 
Majestic,  seventy-four,  Captain  G*  B.  Westcott;  Zealous,  seventy- 
four,  Captain  S."  Hood;  Swiftsure,  seventy-four,  Captain  B.  Hal- 
lowell;  Theseus,  seventy-four,  Captain  Davidge  Gould.  The 
Leander,  fifty,  Captain  T.  B.  Thompson,  was  afterward  added. 
The  first  news  of  the  enemy's  armament  was,  that  it  had  surprised 


298  NELSON. 

Malta,  but  on  the  22d  of  June,  intelligence  was  received  that  the 
French  had  left  that  island  on  the  16th,  the  day  after  their  arrival. 
Nelson  arrived  off  Alexandria  on  the  28th,  and  the  enemy  were 
not  there;  he  then  shaped  his  course  to  the  northward,  but  baffled 
in  his  pursuit,  returned  to  Sicily.  Vexed,  however,  and  disap- 
pointed as  he  was,  Nelson,  with  the  true  spirit  of  a  hero,  was 
still  full  of  hope.  On  the  25th  of  July,  he  sailed  from  Syracuse 
for  the  Morea.  The  squadron  made  the  Gulf  of  Coron  on  the 
28th,  Trowbridge  entered  the  port,  and  returned  with  intelligence 
that  the  French  had  been  seen  about  four  weeks  before,  steering  to 
the  south-east  from  Candia.  The  British  fleet  accordingly,  with 
every  sail  set,  stood  once  more  for  the  coast  of  Egypt.  On  the 
1st  of  August,  about  ten  in  the  morning,  they  came  in  sight 
of  Alexandria,  the  port  had  been  vacant  and  solitary  when  they 
saw  it  last:  it  was  now  crowded  with  ships;  and  they  perceived, 
with  exultation,  that  the  tricolor  flag  was  flying  upon  the  walls. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon,  Captain  Hood,  in  the  'Zealous,  made  the 
signal  for  the  enemy's  fleet.  The  French  fleet  arrived  at  Alex- 
andria on  the  1st  of  July ;  and  Brueys,  not  being  able  to  enter  the 
port,  which  time  and  neglect  had  ruined,  moored  his  ships  in 
Aboukir  Bay,  in  a  strong  and  compact  line  of  battle.  The  plan 
which  Nelson  intended  to  pursue,  therefore,  was  to  keep  entirely 
on  the  outer  side  of  the  French  line,  and  station  his  ships,  as  far 
as  he  was  able,  one  on  the  outer  bow,  and  another  on  the  outer 
quarter,  of  each  of  the  enemy's. 

As  the  squadron  advanced,  they  were  assailed  by  a  shower  of 
shot  and  shells  from  the  batteries  on  the  island,  and  the  enemy 
opened  a  steady  fire  from  the  starboard  side  of  their  whole  line, 
within  half  gun-shot  distance,  full  into  the  bows  of  the  van  ships. 
It  was  received  in  silence:  the  men  on  board  every  ship  were 
employed  aloft  in  furling  sails,  and  below  in  tending  the  braces, 
and  making  ready  for  anchoring.  Captain  Foley  led  the  way  in 
the  Goliah,  out-sailing  the  Zealous,  which  for  some  minutes  dis- 
puted this  point  of  honor  with  him.  He  had  long  conceived  that 
if  the  enemy  were  moored  in  line  of  battle  in  with  the  land,  the 
best  plan  of  attack  would  be,  to  lead  between  them  and  the  shore, 
because  the  French  guns  on  that  side  were  not  likely  to  be  man- 
ned, nor  even  ready  for  action.  Intending,  therefore,  to  fix  him- 
self on  the  inner  bow  of  the  Guerrier,  he  kept  as  near  the  edge 
of  the  bank  as  the  depth  of  water  would  admit;  but  his  anchor  hung, 
and  having  opened  his  fire,  he  drifted  to  the  second  ship,  the  Ccm- 
quercmt,  before  it  was  clear;  then  anchored  by  the  stern,  inside 
of  her,  and  in  ten  minutes  shot  away  her  mast.  Hood,  in  the 
Zealous,  perceiving  this,  took  the  station  which  the  Goliah  intend- 
ed to  have  occupied,  and  totally  disabled  the  Guerrier  in  twelve 
minutes.  The  third  ship  which  doubled  the  enemy's  van  was  the 
Orion,  Sir  I.  Saumarez;  she  passed  to  windward  of  the  Zealous, 
*nd  opened  her  larboard  guns  as  long  as  she  bore  on  the  Guerrier; 


NELSON.  299 

then  passing  inside  the  Goliah,  sunk  a  frigate  which  annoyed  her, 
hauled  round  towards  the  French  line,  and  anchoring  inside,  be- 
tween the  fifth  and  sixth  ships  from  the  Guerrier,  took  her  station 
on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  Franklin  and  the  quarter  of  the  Peuple 
Souverain,  receiving  and  returning  the  fire  of  both.  The  sun 
was  now  nearly  down.  The  Audacious,  Captain  Gould,  pouring 
a  heavy  fire  into  the  Guerrier  and  the  Conquerant,  fixed  herself 
on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  latter,  and  when  that  ship  struck,  pas- 
sed on  to  the  Peuple  Souverain.  The  Theseus,  Captain  Miller, 
f 'Mowed,  brought  down  the  Guerrier's  remaining  main  and  mizen 
masts,  then  anchored  inside  of  the  Spartiate,  the  third  in  the 
French  line.  While  these  advanced  shfps  doubled  the  French 
line,  the  Vanguard  was  the  first  that  anchored  on  the  outer  side 
of  the  enemy,  within  half-pistol-shot  of  their  third  ship,  the  Sparti- 
afe.  Nelson  veered  half  a  cable,  and  instantly  opened  a  tremen- 
dous fire ;  under  cover  of  which  the  other  four  ships  of  his  division, 
the  Minotaur,  Bellerophon,  Defence,  and  Majestic,  sailed  on 
ahead  of  the  admiral.  In  a  few  minutes  every  man  stationed  at 
the  first  six  guns  in  the  fore  part  of  the  Vanguard's  deck  was 
killed  or  wounded:  these  guns  were  three  times  cleared.  Captain 
Louis,  in  the  Minotaur,  anchored  next  ahead,  and  took  off  the  fire 
of  the  Jiquilon,  the  fourth  in  the  enemy^s  line.  The  Bellerophon, 
Captain  Darby,  passed  ahead,  and  dropped  his  stern  anchor  on 
the  starboard  bow  of  the  Orient,  seventh  in  the  line,  Bruey's  own 
ship,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  guns,  whose  difference  of  force 
was  in  proportion  of  more  than  seven  to  three,  and  whose  weight 
of  ball,  from  the  lower  deck  alone,  exceeded  that  from  the  whole 
broadside  of  the  Bellerophon.  Captain  Peyton,  in  the  Defence, 
took  his  station  ahead  of  the  Minotaur,  and  engaged  the.  Franklin, 
the  sixth  in  the  line;  by  which  judicious  movement  the  British  line 
remained  unbroken.  The  Majestic,  Captain  Westcot,  got  en- 
tangled with  the  main  rigging  of  one  of  the  French  ships 
astern  of  the  Orient,  and  suffered  dreadfully  from  that  three-deck- 
er's fire:  but  she  swung  clear,  and  closely  engaging  the  Heureux, 
the  ninth  ship  on  the  starboard  bow,  received  also  the  fire  of  the 
Tonnant,  which  was  the  eighth  in  the  line.  The  other  four  ships, 
of  the  British  squadron,  having  been  detached  previous  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  French,  were  at  a  considerable  distance  when  the 
action  began.  It  commenced  at  half  after  six ;  about  seven,  night 
closed,  and  there  was  no  other  light  than  that  from  the  fire  of  the 
contending  fleets.  The  first  two  ships  of  the  French  line  had 
been  dismasted  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action;  and  the  others  had  in  that  time  suffered  so 
severely,  that  victory  was  already  certain.  The  third,  fourth,  and 
fifth  were  taken  possession  of  at  half  past  eight.  Meantime,  Nel- 
son received  a  severe  wound  on  the  head  from  a  piece  of  langridge 
shot.  When  he  was  carried  down  into  the  cockpit,  the  surgeon, 
-with  a  natural  and  pardonable  eagerness,  quitted  the  poor  fellow 


300  NELSON. 

then  under  his  hands,  that  he  might  instantly  attend  the  admiral. 
"  IVo!"  said  Nelson,  "  I  will  take  my  turn  with  my  brave  fellows." 
It  was  soon  after  nine,  that  a  fire  broke  out  on  board  the  Orient. 
Bruges  was  dead.  The  flames  soon  mastered  his  ship.  By  the 
prodigious  light  of  this  conflagration,  the  situation  of  the  two  fleets 
could  now  be  perceived,  the  colors  of  both  being  clearly  distin- 
guishable. About  ten  o'clock  the  ship  blew  up,  with  a  shock 
which  was  felt  to  the  very  bottom  of  every  vessel.  This  tremen- 
dous explosion  was  followed  by  a  silence  not  less  awful.  About 
seventy  of  the  Orient's  crew  were  saved  by  the  English  boats. 
Four  French  vessels  were  all  that  escaped.  The  British  loss,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  amounted  to  eight  hundred  and  ninety-five. 
Three  thousand  one  hundred  and  five  of  the  French,  including 
the  wounded,  were  sent  on  shore  by  cartel,  and  five  thousand 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  perished.  Nelson  was  now  at  tho 
summit  of  glory:  congratulations,  rewards,  and  honors  were 
showered  upon  him  by  all  the  states,  and  princes,  and  powers  to 
whom  his  victory  gave  a  respite.  In  England  he  was  created 
Baron  Nelson  of  the  Nile,  and  a  pension  of  £2000  per.  annum 
for  his  own  life,  and  those  of  his  two  immediate  successors  award- 
ed him.  Having  sent  the  six  remaining  prizes  forward,  under 
Sir  James  Saumarez,  Nelson  left  Captain  Hood,  in  the  Zealous, 
off  Alexandria,  with  the  Swiftsure,  Goliah,  Alcmene,  Zealous, 
and  Emerald,  and  stood  out  to  sea  himself  on  the  seventeenth  day 
after  the  battle.  On  his  way  back  to  Italy  he  was  seized  with 
fever.  For  eighteen  hours  his  life  was  despaired  of.  On  the 
approach  of  the  French  to  Naples,  on  the  21st  of  December  1798 
-Nelson  landed  at  night,  and  brought  out  the  whole  royal  family, 
embarked  them  in  three  barges,  and  carried  them  safely,  through 
a  tremendous  sea,  to  the  Vanguard.  The  next  day  a  more  violent 
storm  arose  than  Nelson  had  ever  encountered.  On  the  26th,  the 
royal  family  were  landed  at  Palermo.  Nelson  assisted  in  expel- 
ling the  French  from  the  Neapolitan  and  Roman  Territories. 
The  Sicilian  Court,  duly  sensible  of  the  services  of  Nelson— evinc- 
ed their  gratitude  by  giving  him  the  dukedom  and  domain  of 
Bronte,  worth  about  £3000  a  year.  Nelson  soon  after  arrived 
in  England. 

In  1800,  Nelson  who  had  been  made  vice-admiral  of  the  blue, 
was  sent  to  the  Baltic,  as  second  in  command,  under  Sir  Hyde 
Parker.  The  fleet  sailed  on  the  12th  of  March;  and  on  the  21st, 
arrived  in  the  sound.  One  of  the  fleet,  the  Invincible,  seventy- 
four,  was  wrecked  on  a  sand-bank,  as  she  was  coming  out  of  Yar- 
mouth; four  hundred  of  her  men  perished  in  her.  Nelson,  who 
was  now  appointed  to  lead  the  van.  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Elephant. 
Orders  had  been  given  to  pass  the  Sound  as  soon  as  the  wind 
would  permit;  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  29th,  the  ships  were 
cleared  for  action.  The  signal  was  made,  and  the  fleet  moved  on 
in  order  of  battle;  Nelson's  division  in  the  van.  The  Sound  being 


NELSON.  301 

the  only  frequented  entrance  to  the  Baltic,  che  great  Mediterra- 
nean of  tlje  iNorth,  few  parts  of  the  sea  display  so  frequent  a 
navigation.  Never  had  so  splendid  a  scene  been  exhibited  there 
as  on  this  day,  when  the  British  fleet  prepared  to  force  that  pas- 
sage, where,  till  now,  all  ships  had  lowered  their  topsails  to  the 
flag  of  Denmark.  The  whole  force  consisted  of  fifty-one  sail  of 
various  descriptions;  of  which  sixteen  were  of  the  line.  As  soon 
as  the  Monarch,  which  was  the  leading  ship,  came  abreast  of  the 
Danish  batteries,  a  fire  was  opened  from  about  a  hundred  pieces 
of  cannon  and  mortars,  but  the  shot  fell  full  a  cable's  length 
short  of  its  destined  aim.  The  whole  fleet  passed  and  anchored 
between  the  island  of  Huen  and  Copenhagen.  On  the  1st  of 
April,  1801,  the  fleet  removed  to  an  anchorage  within  two  leagues 
of  the  town.  At  five  minutes  after  ten,  the  next  morning,  the 
action  began.  The  first  half  of  the  fleet  was  engaged  in  about 
half  an  hour;  and,  by  l^alf  past  eleven,  the  battle  became  general. 
The  plan  of  attack  had  been  complete:  but  seldom  has  any  plan 
been  more  disconcerted  by  untoward  accidents.  Of  twelve  ships 
of  the  line,  one  was  entirely  useless,  and  two  others  in  a  situation 
where  they  could  not  render  half  the  service  which  was  required 
of  them.  The  action  continued  along  the  line  with  unabated 
vigor,  and  with  the  most  determined  resolution  on  the  part  of 
the  Danes.  Between  one  and  two,  the  fire  of  the  Danes  slack- 
ened ;  about  two  it  ceased  from  the  greater  part  of  their  line,  and 
some  of  their  lighter  ships  were  adrift.  By  half  past  two  the 
action  had  ceased  along  that  part  of  the  line  which  was  astern  of 
the  Elephant,  but  not  with  the  ships  ahead  and  the  Crown  Batte- 
ries, which  continued  for  some  time  longer — It  was  a  murderous 
action.  The  British  fleet  lost  nine  hundred  and  fifty-three,  in 
killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Danes,  including  prisoners, 
amounted  to  about  six  thousand.  Nelson  bore  willing  testimony 
to  the  valor  of  his  foes.  "  The  French,"  he  said,  "  fought  bravely; 
but  they  could  not  have  stood  for  one  hour  the  fight  which  the 
Danes  had  supported  for  four."  Six  line-of-battle  ships  and  eight 
prames  had  been  taken.  For  the  battle  of  Copenhagen,  Nelson 
was  raised  to  the  rank  of  viscount.  He  remained  on  the  coast 
of  Zealand,  till  despatches  arrived  from  home,  on  the  othof  JVIay, 
recalling  Sir  Hyde,  and  appointing  Nelson  commander-in-chief. 
Nelson  visited  some  of  the  Russian  ports,  and  then  returned  to 
England.  He  had  not  been  many  weeks  on  shore  before  he  was 
called  upon  to  undertake  a  service,  to  watch  the  preparations 
which  Buonaparte  was  making  on  a  great  scale  for  the  invasion 
of  England.  Having  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Medusa  frigate,  he 
went  to  reconnoitre  Boulogne,  and  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt 
upon  the  flotilla,  at  that  place.  After  which,  he  returned  to  Eng- 
land, and  retired  to  his  house  at  Merton,  in  Surrey,  which  he 
called  his  place  of  residence  and  rest. 

War  was  soon  renewed,  and  Nelson  departed  to  take  the  com- 

26 


302  NELSON. 


mand  of  the  Mediterranean  fleet.  He  took  his  station  immediately 
off  Toulon;  and  then,  with  incessant  vigilance,  waited  for  the 
coming  out  of  the  enemy.  War  between  Spain  and  England  was 
now  declared;  and,  on  the  eighteenth  of  January,  the  Toulon 
fleet,  having  the  Spaniards  to  cooperate  with  them,  put  to  sea. 

Nelson  was  at  anchor  off  the  coast  of  Sardinia  when,  at  three 
in  the  afternoon,  on  the  19th  of  January,  the  Active  and  Seahorse 
frigates  brought  this  long-hoped  for  intelligence.  Nelson  beat 
about  the  Sicilian  seas  for  ten  days,  and  baffled  in  his  pursuit, 
bore  up  for  Malta.  From  the  21st  of  January  the  fleet  had  re- 
mained ready  for  battle,  without  a  bulk-head  up  night  or  day. 
On  the  4th  of  April,  he  met  the  Phebe,  with  news  that  Villen- 
euve  had  put  to  sea  on  the  last  of  March  with  eleven  ships  of  the 
line,  seven  frigates,  and  two  brigs.  When  last  seen,  they  were 
steering  towards  the  coast  of  Africa.  After  five  days,  a  neutral 
gave  intelligence  that  the  French  had  been  seen  off  Cape  de 
Galle  on  the  7th.  It  was  soon  after  ascertained  that  they  had 
passed  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  on  the  day  following.  Nelson 
received  certain  knowledge  that  the  combined  Spanish  and  French 
fleets  were  bound  for  the  West  Indies.  May  loth,  he  made 
Madeira,  and  on  June  4th,  reached  Barbadoes,  where  he  found 
accounts  that  the  combined  fleet  had  been  seen  from  St.  Lucia 
on  the  28th,  standing  to  the  Southward,  and  that  Tobago  and 
Trinidad  were  their  object.  Advices  met  him,  that  the  combined 
fleets,  were  then  at  Martinique.  On  the  9th  Nelson  arrived  off 
that  island;  and  there  learned  that  they  had  passed  to  leeward  of 
Antigua  the  preceding  day,  and  taken  a  homeward  bound  convoy. 
That  they  were  flying  back  to  Europe  he  believed,  and  for  Europe 
he  steered  in  pursuit  on  the  13th.  On  the  17th  of  July  he  came 
in  sight  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  and  steered  for  Gibraltar  where  he 
arrived  on  the  1 9th ;  *  *  and  on  the  20th, "  says  he,  "I  went  on  shore 
for  the  first  time  since  June  16,  1803;  not  having  had  my  foot  out 
of  the  Victory,  for  two  years,  wanting  ten  days."  On  the  15th  of 
August,  he  joined  Admiral  Cornwallis  off  Ushant.  No  news  had 
yet  been  obtained  of  the  enemy;  and  on  the  same  evening  he  re- 
ceived orders  to  proceed,  with  the  Victory  and  Superb,  to  Ports- 
mouth. At  Portsmouth,  Nelson,  at  length,  found  news  of  the 
combined  fleet.  Sir  Robert  Calder,  had  fallen  in  with  them  on 
the  22d  of  July,  and  after  an  action  of  four  hours,  captured  an 
eighty-four  and  a  seventy-four. 

Nelson  offered  his  services  once  .more,  which  were  willingly 
accepted,  and  he  was  desired  to  choose  his  own  officers.  Un- 
remitting exertions  were  made  to  equip  the  ships  which  he  had 
chosen,  and  especially  to  refit  the  Victory,  which  was  once  more 
to  bear  his  flag.  Early  on  the  following  morning  he  reached 
Portsmouth;  and  arrived  off  Cadiz  on  the  29th  of  September. 
The  station  which  Nelson  had  chosen  was  some  fifty  or  sixty  miles 
to  the  west  of  Cadiz,  near  Cape  St.  Mary's.  There  was  now 


NELSON.  303 

every  indication  that  the  enemy  would  speedily  venture  out.  On 
the  9th  of  October,  Nelson  sent  Collingwood  his  plan  of  attack. 
The  order  of  sailing  was  to  be  the  order  of  battle:  the  fleet  in 
two  lines,  with  an  advanced  squadron  of  eight  of  the  fastest  sail- 
ing two-deckers.  The  second  in  command,  having  the  entire 
direction  of  his  line,  was  to  break  through  the  enemy,  about  the 
twelfth  ship  from  their  rear:  he  would  lead  through  the  centre, 
and  the  advanced  squadron  was  to  cut  off  three  or  four  ahead  of 
the  centre.  One  of  the  last  orders  of  this  admirable  man  was, 
that  the  name  and  family  of  every  officer,  seaman,  and  marine, 
who  might  be  killed  or  wounded  in  action,  should  be  as  soon  as 
possible  returned  to  him,  in  order  to  be  transmitted  to  the  chair- 
man of  the  patriotic  fund,  that  the  case  might  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration, for  the  benefit  of  the  sufferer  or  his  family. 

About  two  in  the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  the  repeating  ships 
announced,  that  the  enemy  were  at  sea.  At  daybreak  on  the 
next  day  the  combined  fleets  were  distinctly  seen  from  the  Victo- 
ry's deck,  formed  in  a  close  line  of  battle  ahead,  on  the  starboard 
tack,  about  twelve  miles  to  leeward,  and  standing  to  the  south. 
Nelson's  fleet  consisted  of  twenty-seven  sail  of  the  line,  and  four 
frigates;  theirs  of  thirty-three,  and  seven  large  frigates.  Their 
superiority  was  greater  in  size,  and  weight  of  metal,  than  in 
numbers.  They  had  four  thousand  troops  on  board;  and  the  best 
riflemen  who  could  be  procured.  On  the  21st  of  October,  soon 
after  daylight,  Nelson  came  upon  deck.  The  wind  was  now 
from  the  west,  light  breezes,  with  a  long  heavy  swell.  Signal 
was  made  to  bear  down  upon  the  enemy  in  two  lines;  and  the 
fleet  set  all  sail.  Collingwood,  in  the  Royal  Sovereign,  led  the 
lee  line  of  thirteen  ships;  the  Victory  led  the  weather  line  of 
fourteen.  Having  seen  that  all  was  as  it  should  be,  Nelson  re- 
tired to  his  cabin,  and  wrote  the  following  prayer:  "May  the 
great  God,  whom  I  worship,  grant  to  my  country,  and  for  the 
benefit  of  Europe  in  general,  a  great  and  glorious  victory,  and 
may  no  misconduct  in  any  one  tarnish  it;  and  may  humanity  after 
victory  be  the  predominant  feature  in  the  British  fleet!  For  my- 
self, individually,  I  commit  my  life  to  Him  that  made  me;  and 
may  his  blessing  alight  on  my  endeavors  for  serving  my  country 
faithfully!  To  him  I  resign  myself,  and  the  just  cause  which  is 
intrusted  to  me  to  defend.  Amen,  Amen,  Amen."  About  six, 
he  appeared  to  be  in  good  spirits,  but  very  calm,  with  his  whole 
attention  fixed  on  the  enemy.  They  tacked  to  the  northward, 
and  formed  their  line  on  the  larboard  tack,  thus  bringing  the 
shoals  of  Trafalgar  and  St.  Pedro  under  the  lee  of  the  British, 
and  keeping  the  port  of  Cadiz  open  for  themselves.  This  was 
judiciously  done:  and  Nelson,  aware  of  all  the  advantages  which 
it  gave  them,  made  signal  to  prepare  to  anchor.  Villeneuve  was 
a  skilful  seaman.  His  plan  of  defence  was  as  well  conceived, 
and  as  original  as  the  plan  of  attack.  He  formed  the  fleet  in  a 


304  NELSON. 

double  line,  every  alternate  ship  being  about  a  cable's  length   to 
windward  of  her  second  ahead  and  astern. 

Nelson's  last  signal  was  now  made: — "ENGLAND  EXPT.CTS 
EVERY  MAN  TO  DO  HIS  DUTY!"  He  wore  that  day,  as  usual,  his 
admiral's  frock,  bearing  on  the  left  breast  four  stars,  of  the  dif- 
ferent orders  with  which  he  was  invested.  It  was  known  thai 
there  were  riflemen  on  board  the  French  ships;  and  it  could  not 
be  doubted  but  that  his  life  would  be  particularly  aimed  at.  This 
was  a  point  upon  which  Nelson's  officers  knew  that  it  was  hope- 
less to  remonstrate  or  reason  with  him;  but  Blackwood,  and  his 
own  captain  Hardy,  represented  to  him  how  advantageous  to  the 
fleet  it  would  be  for  him  to  keep  out  of  action  as  long  as  possible 
and  he  consented  at  last  to  let  the  Leviathan  and  the  Temeraire 
which  were  sailing  abreast  of  the  Victory,  be  ordered  to  pass 
ahead.  Yet  even  here  the  last  infirmity  of  this  noble  mind  was 
indulged,  for  these  ships  could  not  pass  ahead  of  the  Victory  who 
continued  to  carry  all  her  sail;  and  so  far  was  Nelson  from 
shortening  sail,  that  it  was  evident  he  took  pleasure  in  pressing 
on,  and  rendering  it  impossible  for  them  to  obey  his  own  orders. 
The  French  admiral,  on  beholding  Nelson  and  Collingwood  each 
leading  his  line,  is  said  to  ha-ve  exclaimed,  pointing  them  out  to 
his  officers,  that  such  conduct  could  not  fail  to  be  successful. 

At  ten  minutes  before  twelve  the  action  commenced.  Eight  or 
nine  of  the  ships  immediately  ahead  of  the  Victory,  and  across 
her  bows,  fired  single  guns  at  her,  to  ascertain  whether  she  was 
yet  within  their  range.  Nelson's  column  was  steered  about  two 
points  more  to  the  north  than  Colling  wood's,  in  order  to  cut  off 
the  enemy's  escape  into  Cadiz:  the  lee  line,  therefore,  was  first 
engaged.  The  Koyal  Sovereign,  steered  right  for  the  centre  of 
the  enemy's  line,  cut  through  it  astern  of  the  Santa  Anna,  three- 
decker,  and  engaged  her  at  the  muzzle  of  her  guns  on  the  star- 
board side.  The  enemy  continued  to  fire  a  gun  at  a  time  at  the 
Victory,  till  they  saw  that  a  shot  had  passed  through  her  main- 
top-gallant-sail; then  they  opened  their  broadsides,  aiming  chiefly 
at  her  rigging.  The  enemy  showed  no  colors  till  late  in  the 
action.  For  this  reason,  the  Santissima  Trinidad,  was  distinguish- 
ed only  by  her  four  decks;  and  to  the  bow  of  this  opponent  he 
ordered  the  Victory  to  be  steered.  Meantime  an  incessant  rak- 
ing fire  was  kept  up  upon  the  Victory.  The  Admiral's  secretary 
was  one  of  the  first  who  fell.  Presently  a  double-headed  shot 
struck  a  party  of  marines,  who  were  drawn  up  on  the  poop,  and 
killed  eight  of  them.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  a  shot  struck  the 
fore  brace  bits  on  the  quarter  deck,  and  passed  between  Nelson 
and  Hardy,  a  splinter  from  the  bit  tearing  off  Hardy's  buckle 
and  bruising  his  foot.  Nelson  then  smiled,  and  said,  "  This  is 
too  warm  work,  Hardy,  to  last  long." 

The  Victory  had  not  yet  returned  a  single  gun;  fifty  of  her 
men  had  been  by  this  time  killed  or  wounded,  and  her  main-top- 


NELSON.  305 

mast  with  all  her  studding-sails  and  her  booms,  shot  away.  At 
four  minutes  after  twelve,  she  opened  her  fire  from  both  sides  of 
her  deck.  The  master  was  ordered  to  put  the  helm  to  port,  and 
she  ran  on  board  the  Redoubtable,  just  as  her  tiller  ropes  were 
shot  away.  The  French  ship  received  her  with  a  broadside; 
then  instantly  let  down  her  lower-deck  ports,  for  fear  of  being 
boarded  through  them,  and  never  afterward  fired  a  great  gun 
during  the  action.  Her  tops,  like  those  of  all  the  enemy's  ships, 
were  rilled  with  riflemen.  Captain  Harvey,  in  the  Temeraire, 
fell  on  board  the  Redoubtable  on  the  other  side.  Another  enemy 
was  in  like  manner  on  board  the  Temeraire;  so  that  these  lour 
ships  formed  as  compact  a  tier  as  if  they  had  been  moored 
together,  their  heads  lying  all  the  same  way.  The  lieutenants 
of  the  Victory,  seeing  this,  depressed  their  guns  of  the  middle 
and  lower  decks,  and  lired  with  a  diminished  charge,  lest  the  shot 
should  pass  through,  and  injure  the  Temeraire.  An  incessant 
fire  was  kept  up  from  the  Victory  from  both  sides;  her  larboard 
guns  playing  upon  the  Bucentaur  and  the  huge  Santissima  Trin- 
idad. 

It  had  been  part  of  Nelson's  prayer,  that  the  British  fleet 
might  be  distinguished  by  humanity  in  the  victory  he  expected. 
He  twice  gave  orders  to  cease  firing  upon  the  Redoubtable,  sup- 
posing that  she  had  struck.  From  this  ship,  which  he  had  thus 
twice  spared,  he  received  his  death.  A  ball  fired  from  her 
mizen-top,  which,  in  the  then  situation  of  the  two  vessels,  was 
not  more  than  fifteen  yards  from  that  part  of  the  deck  where  he 
was  standing,  struck  the  epualette  on  his  left  shoulder,  about  a 
quarter  after  one,  just  in  the  heat  of  the  action.  He  fell  upon  his 
face,  on  the  spot  which  was  covered  with  his  poor  secretary's 
blood.  He  was  taken  down  into  the  cockpit,  and  it  was  perceiv- 
ed, upon  examination,  that  the  wound  was  mortal.  This,  how- 
ever, was  concealed  from  all,  except  Captain  Hardy,  the  chaplain, 
and  the  medical  attendants.  All  that  could  be  done  was  to  fan 
him  with  paper,  and  frequently  to  give  him  lemonade  to  alleviate 
his  intense  thirst.  He  was  in  great  pain,  and  expressed  much 
anxiety  for  the  event  of  the  action,  which  now  began  to  declare 
itself.  As  often  as  a  ship  struck,  the  crew  of  the  Victory  huzza- 
ed, and  at  every  huzza,  a  visible  expression  of  joy  gleamed  in  the 
eyes,  and  marked  the  countenance  of  the  dying  hero.  Nelson 
desired  to  be  turned  on  his  right  side,  when  his  articulation 
became  difficult,  but  he  was  distinctly  heard  to  say,  "  Thank 
God,  I  have  done  my  duty."  These  words  he  repeatedly  pro- 
nounced: and  they  were  the  last  words  which  he  uttered.  He 
expired  at  thirty  minutes  after  four,  three  hours  and  a'  quarter 
after  he  had  received  his  wound.  The  man  who  had  given  the 
fatal  wound,  was  recognised,  and  did  not  live  to  boast  of  what  he 
had  done.  When  the  Redoubtable  was  taken  possession  of,  he 
was  found  dead  in  the  mizen  top,  with  one  ball  through  his  head, 

26* 


306  CASABIANCA. 

and  another  through  his  breast.  The  Spaniards  began  the  battle 
with  less  vivacity  than  their  jmworthy  allies,  but  they  continued 
it  with  greater  firmness.  Once,  amid  his  sufferings.  Nelson  had 
expressed  a  wish  that  he  were  dead;  but  immediately  the  spirit 
subdued  the  pains  of  death,  and  he  wished  to  live  a  little  longer; — 
doubtless  that  he  might  hear  the  completion  of  the  victory  which 
he  had  seen  so  gloriously  begun.  That  consolation — that  joy— 
that  triumph  was  afforded  him.  He  lived  to  know  that  the  victory 
was  decisive;  and  the  last  guns  which  were  fired  at  the  flying 
enemy  were  heard  a  minute  or  two  before  he  expired.  The  ships 
which  were  thus  flying  were  four  of  the  enemy's  van,  all  French, 
under  Rear- Admiral  Dumanoir,  who  were  afterwards  captured  by 
Sir  Richard  Strachan. 

The  total  British  loss  in  the  Battle  of  Trafalgar  amounted  to 
one  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  Twenty  of  the 
enemy  struck;  but  it  was  not  possible  to  anchor  the  fleet,  as 
Nelson  had  enjoined;  a  gale  came  on  from  the  south-west;  some 
of  the  prizes  went  down,  some  went  on  shore;  one  effected  its 
escape  into  Cadiz;  others  were  destroyed;  four  only  were  saved 
and  these  by  the  greatest  exertions.  The  Spanish  vice-admiral 
Alava,  died  of  his  wounds.  Villeneuve  was  sent  to  England,  and 
permitted  to  return  to  France.  It  is  almost  superfluous  to  add, 
that  all  the  honors  which  a  grateful  country  could  bestow,  were 
heaped  upon  the  memory  of  Nelson.  A  public  funeral  was  de- 
creed and  a  public  monument.  The  leaden  coffin,  in  which  he 
was  carried  home,  was  cut  in  pieces,  which  were  distributed  as 
relics  of  Saint  Nelson, — so  the  gunner  of  the  Victory  called 
them; — and  when,  at  his  interment,  his  flag  was  about  to  be 
lowered  into  the  grave,  the  sailors,  who  assisted  at  the  ceremony, 
with  one  accord  rent  it  in  pieces,  that  each  might  preserve  a 
fragment  while  he  lived.  There  was  reason  to  suppose,  from  the 
appearances  upon  opening  the  body,  that,  in  the  course  of  nature, 
he  might  have  attained,  like  his  father,  to  a  good  old  age.  Yet 
he  cannot  be  said  to  have  fallen  prematurely,  whose  work  was 
done;  nor  ought  he  to  be  lamented,  who  died  so  full  of  honors, 
and  at  the  height  of  human  fame. 


CASABIAiNCA.* 

The  boy  stood  on  the  burning  deck, 
Whence  all  but  him  had  fled,; 

The  flame  that  lit  the  battle's  wreck, 
Shone  round  him  o'er  the  dead. 


*  Young  Casablanca,  a  hoy  about  thirteen  years  old,  son  to  the  admiral  of  the  Orient,  remain- 
ed at  his  post  (in  the  battle  of  the  Nile,)  after  the  ship  had  taken  fire,  and  all  the  g'ms  had 
been  abandoned  ;  and  perished  in  the  explosion  of  the  vessel,  when  the  flames  had  reached 
the  powder. 


THE    CUMBERLAND    PACKET.  307 

Yet  beautiful  and  bright  he  stood, 

As  born  to  rule  the  storm  j 
A  creature  of  heroic  blood, 

A  proud,  though  childlike  form. 

The  flames  rolled  on — he  would  not  go, 

Without  his  father's  word  ; 
That  father,  faint  in  death  below, 

His  voice  no  longer  heard. 

He  called  aloud—"  Say,  father,  say 

If  yet  my  task  is  done  ?" 
He  knew  not  that  the  chieftain  lay 

Unconscious  of  his  son. 

"  Speak,  father !"  once  again  he  cried, 

"  If  I  may  yet  be  gone  !" 
— And  but  the  booming  shots  replied, 

And  fast  the  flames  rolled  on. 

Upon  his  brow  he  felt  their  breath,  . 

And  in  his  waving  hair  ; 
And  looked  from  that  lone  post  of  death, 

In  still,  yet  brave  despair. 

And  shouted  but  once  more  aloud, 

"  My  father  !  mnst  I  stay  ?" 
While  o'er  him  fast,  through  sail  and  shroud 

The  wreathing  fires  made  way. 

They  wrapped  the  ship  in  splendor  wild, 

They  caught  the  flag  on  high, 
And  streamed  above  the  gallant  child, 

Like  banners  in  the  sky. 

There  came  a  burst  of  thunder  sound — 

The  boy — oh  !  where  was  he  ? 
— Ask  of  the  winds  that  far  around 

With  fragments  strewed  the  sea ! 

With  mast,  and  helm,  and  pennon  fair, 

That  well  had  borne  their  part — 
But  the  noblest  thing  that  perished  there, 

Was  that  young  faithful  heart. 


THE  CUMBERLAND  PACKET. 

In  the  dreadful  hurricane  which  took  place  at  Antigua,  on  the 
4th  of  September,  1804,  several  vessels  were  lost;  and  among 
others,  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  Packet.  Every  precaution  had 
been  taken,  by  striking  the  yards  and  masts,  to  secure  the  vessel; 
and  the  cable  had  held  so  long,  that  some  faint  hope  began  to  be 


308  THE    CUMBERLAND    PACKET. 

entertained  of  riding  out  the  gale,  when  several  of  the  crew  were 
so  indiscreet,  as  to  quit  the  deck  for  some  refreshment;  no  sooner 
had  they  sat  down,  than  a  loud  groan  from  the  rest  of  the  crew 
summoned  them  on  decl^,  The  captain  ran  forward,  and  exclaim- 
ed, "All's  now  over:  Lord  God  have  mercy  upon  us!"  The 
cable  had  parted;  the  ship  hung  about  two  minutes  by  the  stream 
and  kedge,  and  then  began  to  drive  broadside  on.  At  this  mo- 
ment the  seamen,  torn  by  despair,  seemed  for  a  moment  to  forget 
themselves;  lamentations  for  their  homes,  their  wives,  and  their 
children,  resounded  through  the  ship.  Every  man  clung  to  a 
rope,  and  determined  to  stick  to  it  as  long  as  the  ship  remained 
entire.  For  an  hour  they  drifted  on,  without  knowing  whither,  the 
men  continued  to  hold  fast  by  the  rigging  while  their  bodies  were 
beaten  by  the  heaviest  rain,  and  lashed  by  every  wave.  The 
most  dreadful  silence  prevailed.  Every  one  was  too  intent  on  his 
own  approaching  end,  to  be  able  to  communicate  his  feelings 
to  another;  and  nothing  was  heard  but  the  howling  of  the  tempest. 
The  vessel  drove  towards  the  harbor  of  St.  John's,  and  two  alarm 
guns  were  fired,  in  order  that  the  garrison  might  be  spectators  of 
their  fate,  for  it  was  in  vain  to  think  of  assistance.  They  soon 
drove  against  a  large  ship,  and  went  close  under  her  stern.  A 
faint  hope  now  appeared  of  being"  sUanded  on  a  sandy  beach;  and 
the  captain  therefore  ordered  the  carpenter  to  get  the  hatchets  all 
ready  to  cut  away  the  masts,  in  order  to  make  a  raft  for  those  who 
chose  to  venture  upon  it.  The  vessel  however  drove  with  extreme 
violence  on  some  rocks,  and  the  cracking  of  her  timbers  below 
was  distinctly  heard.  Every  hope  now  vanished,  and  the  crew 
already  began  to  consider  themselves  as  beings  of  another  world. 
In  order  to  ease  the  vessel,  and  if  possible  prevent  her  from 
parting,  the  mizen-mast  was  suffered  to  remain,  to  steady  the 
vessel.  The  vessel  had  struck  about  two  o'clock,  and  in  half 
an  hour  afterwards  the  water  was  up  to  the  lower  deck.  Never 
was  daylight  more  anxiously  wished  for,  than  by  the  crew  of  this 
vessel.  After  having  hung  so  long  by  the-  shrouds,  they  were 
forced  to  cling  three  hours  longer  before  the  dawn  appeared.  The 
sea  was  making  a  complete  breach  over  the  ship,  which  was  lay- 
ing on  her  beam  ends;  and  the  crew,  stiff  and  benumbed,  could 
with  difficulty  hold  against  the  force  of  the  waves,  every  one  of 
which  struck  and  nearly  drowned  them. 

The  bre,ak  of  day  discovered  to  the  wretched  mariners  all  the 
horrors  of  their  situation;  the  vessel  was  lying  upon  large  rocks, 
at  the  foot  of  a  craggy  overhanging  precipice,  twice  as  high  as 
the  ship's  mainmast;  the  wind  and  rain  beat  upon  the  crew  with 
unabated  violence,  and  the  ship  lay  a  miserable  wreck.  The  first 
thoughts  of  the  crew  in  the  morning  were  naturally  directed  to 
the  possibility  of  saving  their  lives;  and  they  all  agreed,  that  their 
only  chance  of  doing  so,  was  by  means  of  the  mizen-mast.  The 
top-mast  and  top-gallant-mast  were  launched  out,  and  reached 


THE    CUMBERLAND    PACKET. 


309 


within  a  few  feet  of  the  rock.  An  attempt  was  made  by  one  of  the 
crew,  to  throw  a  rope  with  a  noose  to  the  top  of  the  rock;  but  in- 
stead of  holding  by  the  bushes,  it  brought  them  away.  Another 
seaman,  who  seemed  from  despair  to  have  imbibed  an  extraordi- 
nary degree  of  courage,  followed  the  first  man  out  on  the  mast, 
with  the  intention  of  throwing  himself  from  the  end  upon  the  mercy 
of  the  rock;  he  had  proceeded  to  the  extremity  of  the  top-gallant- 
mast,  and  was  on  the  point  of  leaping  among  the  bushes,  when 
the  pole  of  the  mast,  unable  to  sustain  his  weight,  gave  way,  and 
precipitated  him  into  the  bosom  of  the  waves,  from  a  height  of 
forty  feet.  Fortunately  he  had  carried  down  with  him  the  piece 
of  the  broken  mast,  and  instead  of  being  dashed  to  pieces,  as  was 
expected,  he  kept  himself  above  water  until  he  was  hoisted  up. 


Loss  of  the  Cumberland  Packet. 

All  hopes  of  being  saved  by  the  mizen-mast  were  now  at  an  end, 
and  while  the  crew  were  meditating  in  sullen  silence  on  their  situa- 
tion, Mr.  Doncaster,  the  chief  mate,  unknown  to  any  one,  went 
out  on  the  bowsprit,  and  having  reached  the  end  of  the  jib-boom, 
threw  himself  headlong  into  the  water.  He  had  scarcely  fallen, 
when  a  tremendous  wave  threw  him  upon  the  rock,  and  left  him 
dry;  there  he  remained  motionless,  until  a  second  wave  washed 
him  still  farther  up,  when  clinging  to  some  roughness  in  the  cliff, 
he  began  to  scramble  up  the  rock;  and  in  about  half  an  hour,  he 
with  infinite  difficulty  reached  the  summit  of  the  cliff  The  crew 
anxiously  watched  every  step  he  took,  and  prayed  foi  Ms  safety, 
conscious  that  their  own  preservation  depended  solely  upon  it. 
Mr.  Doncaster  immediately  went  round  to  that  part  of  the  preci- 
pice nearest  the  vessel,  and  received  a  rope  thrown  from  the  main 


. 

310  CAPTAIN  D'ENTRECASTEAUX.  t 

top,  which  he  fastened  to  some  trees.  By  means  of  this  rope,  the 
whole  of  the  crew  were,  in  the  space  of  three  hours,  hoisted  to 
the  top  of  the  cliff. 

The  whole  of  the  ship's  company  having  assembled  on  the 
rock,  bent  their  steps  towards  town.  The  plain  before  them  had, 
in  consequence  of  the  heavy  rains,  become  almost  impassable; 
but  after  wading  about  three  miles  through  fields  of  canes,  and 
often  plunged  up  to  the  neck  in  water,  they  reached  St.  John's  in 
safety;  where  they  would  have  died  for  want  of  food  and  necessa- 
ries, had  it  not  been  for  the  kind  offices  of  a  Mulatto  tailor,  who 
supplied  them  with  clothes,  beds,  and  provisions,  and  did  them 
other  kind  offices  of  humanity. 


CAPTAIN  D'ENTRECASTEAUX. 

On  September  28th,  1791,  in  the  two  sloops,  La  Recherche 
and  L'Esperance,  of  sixteen  guns,  and  one  hundred  arid  ten  men 
each,  they  weighed  from  the  harbor  of  Brest,  completely  equip- 
ped for  a  voyage  of  circumnavigating  the  globe.  The  conduct 
of  the  expedition  was  assigned  to  Captain  D'Entrecasteaux/  The 
leading  object  of  the  voyage  was  to  endeavor  to  procure  intelli- 
gence relative  to  Captain  La  Perouse,  who  had  long  been  missing 
in  the  South  Seas,  and  to  make  a  complete  tour  of  New  Holland; 
an  island,  by  far  the  largest  in  the  world;  comprehending  an 
immense  circuit  of  at  least  three  thousand  (French)  leagues. 
The  accomplishment  of  this  last  point  was  essential  to  the  history 
of  geography,  and  what  had  not  been  effected  by  either  Cook  or 
La  Perouse. 

The  first  port  they  made  was  Santa  Cruz  in  Teneriffe;  they 
arrived  there  on  the  17th  of  October,  and  having  taken  in  wines 
and  provisions,  proceeded  on  their  route  to  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope;  and  while  they  continued  there,  the  expedition  sustained  a 
considerable  misfortune  in  the  death  of  the  astronomer  Bertrand. 
February  16th,  1792,  they  left  the  Cape,  and  bore  away  for  the 
island  of  New  Guinea,  some  parts  of  which  they  explored;  they 
reached  the  islands  Arsacides  on  July  the  9th,  and  New  Ireland 
the  17th  ditto.  They  afterwards  made  for  Amboyna,  one  of  the 
Molucca  islands,  and  arrived  Sept.  6th. — October  llth,  they  left 
Amboyna,  and  sailed  immediately  for  the  west  part  of  New  Hol- 
land. December  3d,  1792,  they  arrived  at  the  Cape,  which  is  at 
the  south-west  extremity  of  New  Holland,  and  sailed  along  the 
southern  shore,  till  January  3d,  having  by  this  means  traced  and 
ascertained  about  two-thirds  of  the  whole  extent  of  the  southern 
coast.  On  the  llth  of  March,  they  passed  very  near  the  North 


311 

cape  of  New  Zealand,  and  making  for  the  shore,  several  canoes 
came  along-side.  On  the  16th,  they  discovered  two  little  islands, 
at  a  little  distance  from  each  other.  The  most  eastern  one  lies 
in  30  deg.  17  min.  south  latitude,  and  in  179  deg.  41  min.  east 
longitude. — On  the  17th,  discovered  an  island  about  five  leagues 
in  circumference,  conspicuous  by  its  elevated  situation.  It  lies 
in  L29  deg.  3  min.  south  latitude,  and  in  179  deg.  54  min.  east 
longitude. — On  the  2d  of  March  they  saw  Ebona,  the  most  south- 
westerly of  the  Friendly  Islands.  The  next  day  anchored  at 
Tongataboo,  the  largest  of  the  Friendly  Islands.  Among  these 
islanders  they  frequently  met  with  men  six  feet  high,  their  limbs 
shaped  in  the  most  comely  proportion.  The  fertility  of  the  soil, 
which  exempted  them  from  the  necessity  of  extreme  labor,  may 
conduce  not  a  little  to  the  unusual  perfection  of  their  forms. 
Their  features  have  a  strong  resemblance  to  those  of  Europeans. 
A  burning  sky  has  impressed  a  slight  discolor  on  their  skins. 
Those,  among  the  women,  who  are  but  little  exposed  to  the  rays 
of  the  sun,  are  sufficiently  fair.  Some  of  them  are  distinguished 
by  a  beautiful  carnation,  which  gives  a  vivacity  to  their  whole 
figure.  A  thousand  nameless  graces  are  visible  in  their  gestures, 
when  engaged  in  the  slightest  employments.  In  the  dance  their 
movements  are  enchanting. 

The  language  of  this  people  bears  an  analogy  with  the  gentle- 
ness of  their  manners;  it  is  well  adapted  to  music,  for  which  they 
have  a  peculiar  taste.  Their  concerts  wherein  every  one  performs 
his  part,  demonstrate  the  just  ideas  which  they  entertain  of  har- 
mony. The  women,  as  well  as  the  men,  have  their  shoulders  and 
breasts  naked.  A  cotton  cloth,  or  rather  a  piece  of  stuff,  manu- 
factued  with  the  bark  of  mulberry-tree  into  paper  serves  them  for 
apparel.  It  forms  a  beautiful  drapery,  reaching  from  a  little 
above  the  waist  down  to  the  feet.  These  islands  produce  a 
species  of  nutmegs,  which  differs  very  little  in  form  from  those 
of  the  Moluccas.  It  is  not,  however,  aromatic,  and  is  almost 
twice  as  large.  They  also  procured  the  bread-fruit  tree,  for  the 
purpose  of  transporting  it  into  the  West  India  Islands.  We 
must  not  confound  these  excellent  species  of  bread-fruit  tree  with 
the  wild  species  of  it  found  in  the  Moluccas,  and  observed  for  a 
long  time  past  in  the  Isle  of  France.  In  this  second  sort  the 
grains  do  not  miscarry,  while  in  the  good  fruit-tree  they  are  re- 
placed by  a  food  truly  delicious,  when  baked  under  ashes  or  in 
the  oven.  In  other  respects  it  is  a  most  wholesome  viand,  afford-^ 
ing  a  pleasant  repast  during  the  whole  time  of  their  continuance" 
on  this  island,  and  for  which  they  willingly  relinquished  the 
ship's  stock  of  baker's  bread.  The  Molucca  sort  produces  thirty 
or  forty  small  fruits;  while  every  tree  of  the  Friendly  Islands 
produces  three  or  four  hundred  exlremely  large,  of  an  oval  form, 
the  greatest  diameter  being  from  nine  to  ten  inches,  and  the 
smallest  from  seven  to  eight.  A  tree  would  be  oppressed  with 


312  CAPTAIN  D'ENTRECASTEAUX. 

such  an  enormous  load,  if  the  fruit  were  to  ripen  all  at  once;  but 
sagacious  nature  has  so  ordered  it,  that  the  fruit  succeed  each 
other,  during  eight  months  of  the  year,  thus  providing  the  natives 
with  a  food  equally  salubrious  and  plentiful.  Every  tree  occupies 
a  circular^  space  of  about  thirty  feet  in  diameter.  A  single  acre 
occupied  by  this  vegetable  would  supply  the  wants  of  a  number  of 
families.  Nothing  in  nature  exhibits  a  similar  fecundity.  As  it 
produces  no  seeds,  it  has  a  wonderful  faculty  of  throwing  out 
suckers;  and  its  roots  frequently  force  their  way  up  to  the  surface 
of  the  earth,  arid  there  give  birth  to  fresh  plants.  It  thrives  ex- 
ceedingly in  a  tropical  climate,  in  a  soil  somewhat  elevated  above 
the  level  of  the  sea;  and  suits  very  well  with  a  marly  soil,  in 
which  a  mixture  of  argillaceous  clay  preponderates. 

They  quitted  the  Friendly  Islands  on  the  10th  of  April,  1793. 
April  loth  saw  Eriouan,  the  most  eastern  of  the  islands  of  the 
Archipelago  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  afterwards  that  of  Anaton. 
The  eruptions  of  the  volcano  of  Tana,  presented  in  the  night  a 
spectacle  truly  sublime.  April  27th,  steering  for  iSew  Cale- 
donia; in  a  night  darker  than  usual,  they  ran  among  some 
islands  surrounded  with  breakers,  not  noticed  till  then  by  navi- 
gators; they  were  only  apprised  of  danger  by  an  uncommon 
circumstance;  the  flight  of  a  flock  of  sea- fowl  over  their  heads 
about  three  in  the  morning.  This  indication  of  the  proximity  of 
land  induced  the  officer  upon  watch  to  slacken  sail,  and  lie-to,  at 
a  critical  juncture,  when  an  hour's  more  sailing  must  have  dashed 
them  to  pieces  against  the  rocks.  These  new  discovered  islands 
lie  about  thirty  leagues  north-east  of  New  Caledonia,  where  they 
anchored  April  26th. 

After  the  description  that  Cook  and  Forster  have  given  of  the 
inhabitants  of  New  Zealand,  they  expected  to  find  realized  the 
advantageous  portrait  given  of  them  by  those  celebrated  voyagers. 
They  had  reason,  however,  partly  to  suspend  their  belief  of  those 
accounts,  when  they  afterwards  observed  a  number  of  human  bones, 
broiled,  which  the  savages  were  devouring,  eagerly  fastening  on 
the  smallest  tendinous  parts  which  adhere  to  them.  This  fact  at 
least  suffices  to  prove,  that  the  New  Zealanders  are  cannibals. 
They  often  attacked  their  boat;  but  the  good  countenance  exhibit- 
ed prevented  their  assailing  or  massacring  any  of  their  company. 
Notwithstanding  these  hostilities,  the  ship  was  every  day  visited 
bv  numerous  bodies  of  the  islanders.  The  soil  being  every  where 
barren,  they  perceived  but  few  vestiges  of  any  taste  for  agricul- 
ture; still,  however,  they  observed  in  some  gardens  the  Colocasia, 
the  Caribbee  cabbage,  the  banana-tree,  and  the  sugar  cane. 
The  barbarous  customs  of  the  natives  did  not  prevent  their  reite- 
rated excursions  into  the  interior  parts  of  the  country.  On  these 
occasions  they  kept  together  to  the  number  of  twenty,  always 
well  armed.  As  evening  came  on,  they  commonly  took  their  sta- 
lon  on  some  elevated  post  in  the  mountains,  where  they  passed 


CAPTAIN  D'EN'TRECASTEAUX.  313 

the  night  in  a  situation   which  protected   them  from  hostile   as- 
saults.    To  guard  against  surprise,  they  kept  watch  by  turns. 

May  9th.  they  weighed  anchor,  and  sailed  before  the  wind  for 
the  north.  In  their  course,  observed  the  eastern  part  of  the  reefs 
and  islands,  the  western  side  of  which  they  saw  the  year  before. 
May  21st,  were  close  on  the  island  of  St.  Croix,  and  sent  in  two 
boats  to  look  out  for  an  anchoring  place.  While  the  sailors  were 
employed  in  sounding,  one  of  the  natives,  at  the  distance  of  up- 
wards of  eighty  paces,  lanced  an  arrow,  which  slightly  wounded 
•the  forehead  of  one  of  them.  A  volley  of  firearms,  however, 
soon  dispersed  the  group  of  canoes  which  had  surrounded  the 
boats,  and  from  which  the  lance  proceeded.  Although  the  wound 
was  apparently  so  inconsiderable,  it  was  attended  with  a  tetanus, 
which  proved  mortal  to  the  unfortunate  sailor  after  only  eight 
days.  The  arrow  did  not  appear  to  have  been  poisoned,  as  it  is 
well  known  that  beasts  pierced  with  the  same  weapons  do  not  ex- 
perience any  fatal  symptoms.  In  India,  it  is  no  uncommon  thing 
to  see  the  slightest  puncture  followed  by  a  spasm,  which  is  a  cer- 
tain forerunner  of  death. 

July  l£th  and  17th,  they  sailed  in  view  of  the  Anchoret  Islands 
of  Bougainville.  On  the  20th  they  lost  D'Entrecasteaux,  the 
captain.  He  died  of  convulsions,  every  fit  of  which  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  speechless  stupor.  August  16th,  1793,  in  129 
deg.  14  min.  of  east  longitude,  and  so  near  the  equator,  that  they 
were  only  half  a  minute  to  the  south.  Here  the  inhabitants 
brought  very  large  sea-turtles,  the  soup  of  which  they  experienced 
to  be  a  salutary  remedy  for  the  scurvy,  which  was  now  prevalent 
among  them.  In  this  island  they  procured  a  number  of  interesting 
objects,  and  quitted  it  August  the  29th,  and  sailed  for  Bouao, 
where  they  anchored  September  the  3d,  1793.  In  this  mountain- 
ous isle,  where  the  productions  of  nature  are  extremely  varied, 
they  had  a  favorable  opportunity  of  continuing  their  botanical 
researches,  &c.  Here  several  of  the  men  died  of  a  contagious 
bilious  dysentery,  contracted  in  the  low  marshy  grounds  of  the 
country. 

October  28,  1793,  cast  anchor  in  the  road  of  Sourabaya,  in  the 
Isle  of  Java.  Here  divisions  broke  out  among  the  crews,  in 
consequence  of  gaining  intelligence  of  the  further  progress  of  the 
French  revolution.  D' Auribeau  hoisted  the  white  flag  Feb.  19th, 
1794,  and  surrendered  the  iwo  vessels  to  the  Dutch.  He  also 
seized  all  the  journals,  charts,  and  memoirs,  which  were  connected 
with  the  voyage,  and  arrested  all  those  of  the  ship's  companies 
that  were  obnoxious  to  his  own  political  sentiments.  One  journal, 
however,  was  fortunately  saved,  by  having  been  stowed  in  a  box 
of  tea.  In  this  hazardous,  yet  important  voyage,  of  two  hundred 
and  fiflteen  persons,  thirty-six  lost  their  lives;  the  astronomer, 
Pearson,  died  at  JS^VA,  and  Ventenat  at  the  Isle  of  France. 
Riche,  the  naturalist,  remained  at  Java,  as  well  as  Billadiere. 


314  THE  MARINER'S  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  MISTRESS. 

Lahay,  the  botanist,  also  stopped  there;  having  under  his  care 
the  bread-fruit  trees,  brought  i'rom  the  Friendly  Islands.  Pison, 
the  painter,  tarried  with  the  governor  of  Sourabaya;  b^*  after- 
wards returned  to  Europe,  and  published  an  accounl  of  the 
voyage. 


THE  MARINER'S  ADDRESS  TO  HIS 


When  clouds  are  dark  and  winds  blow  high, 
Thou  'It  surely  think  of  me  — 
Whose  fate  is  in  that  stormy  sky, 
Or  on  the  raging  sea. 

And  oft  thou'lt  think  at  eventide, 
When  flowers  perfume  the  breeze, 
Of  him  who  would  be  by  thy  side, 
But  still  must  roam  the  seas. 

Thou'lt  think,  too,  when  the  stars  shine  bright 
Out  o'er  the  azure  sky, 
Of  one  who  views  their  hallowed  light 
And  dreams  that  thou  art  nigh. 

He  sees  thee  in  that  one  bright  star, 
Pure  emblem  of  our  love  ; 
That  minds  us  as  it  beams  afar, 
Our  vows  are  sealed  above. 

And  still  his  wandering  eye  shall  catch 
Its  loved  and  stilly  light, 
And  think  of  thee,  who  too  dost  watch 
Love's  altar  pure  and  bright. 

Its  incense  is  the  sweet  sea-breeze, 
That  bears  his  vows  to  shore, 
Or  visions  poured  on  the  seas, 
To  meet  and  part  no  more. 

The  merry  sea-boy  trolls  his  lay, 
And  lightly  laughs  at  sadness  ; 
The  soldier  sings  war's  roundelay 
Its  notes  respond  his  gladness. 

The  mariner  still  views  his  chart, 
Or  looks  upon  the  pole, 
Whose  star  will  guide  him  to  his  mart. 
Howe'erthe  billows  roll. 

Another  sighs  in  secret  sorrow 
O'er  those  he  left  behind  ; 
The  ship  rides  on  to-day.    To-morr*1* 
Their  forms  have  left  his  mind. 


CAPTAIN    RILEY.  315 

Their  joys  and  sorrows,  hopes  and  fears, 
Are  transient  as  the  wind  ; 
Eyes  bright  in  hope,  or  dim  with  fears, 
Are  emblems  of  their  mind. 

Ambition's  lure  or  gainful  trade 
Still  lead  them  on  their  way ; 
Not  so  for  me — my  soul  was  made 
To  seek  another  stay. 

My  spirit  turns  toward  that  shore, 
A  wand'rer  though  I  be, 
And  hopes  to  meet  and  part  no  more, 
From  all  it  loves — from  thee. 


CAPTAIN  RILEY.  % 

There  is  not,  perhaps,  in  the  annals  of  slipwreck,  a  personal 
narrative  more  deeply  distressing,  or  more  gainfully  interesting, 
than  that  of  Captain  Riley.  Were  there  not  the  most  ample 
testimony  to  his  excellent  moral  character  and  unimpeachable 
veracity,  we  might  be  led  to  withhold  our  belief  from  some  parts 
of  his  narrative,  on  the  simple  ground,  that  human  nature  on  the 
one  hand,  was  utterly  incapable  of  inflicting,  and  on  the  other,  of 
enduring  such  hardships  and  sufferings  as  this  gentleman  and  his 
poor  shipwrecked  companions  had  to  undergo — sufferings  which, 
as  Captain  Riley  truly  says,  have  been  as  great  and  as  various  as 
ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  humanity. 

The  American  Brig,  Commerce,  commanded  by  Captain  Riley, 
with  a  crew  of  ten  persons,  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
on  the  28th  of  August,  1815.  With  some  difficulty  the  crew 
reached  the  shore,  and  secured  a  small  quantity  of  provisions  and 
tools,  to  repair  their  boat,  in  which  they  hoped  to  reach  the  Cape 
de  Verd  Island.  All  hopes  of  this  were,  however,  soon  rendered 
abortive  by  the  appearance  of  a  party  of  Arabs;  who  burnt  their 
trunks  and  chests,  carried,  off  their  provisions,  and  stove  in  the 
wine  and  water  casks.  The  crew  escaped  to  their  boat,  but  Mr. 
Riley  was  left  behind.  One  of  the  Arabs  seized  hold  of  him  by 
the  throat,  and  with  a  scimitar  at  his  breast,  gave  him  to  under- 
stand there  was  money  on  board,  and  it  must  instantly  be  brought 
ashore. 

When  the  ship  was  wrecked,  Mr.  Riley  had  divided  the  dollars 
among  the  crew.  On  being  informed  of  the  demands  of  the  Arabs 
he  hailed  the  men,  and  told  them  what  the  savages  required;  a 
bucket  was  accordingly  sent  on  shore  with  about  a  thousand  dol- 
lars. An  old  Arab  instantly  laid  hold  of  it,  and  forcing  Riley  to 
accompany  him,  they  all  went  behind  the  sand  hills  to  divide  the 


316  CAPTAIN    RILEY. 

spoil.  In  this  situation  he  felt  himself  very  uneasy,  and  in  ordci 
to  regain  the  beach,  he  made  signs  that  there  was  still  more  money 
remaining  in  the  ship.  The  hint  succeeded;  and  under  the  idea 
of  getting  it  they  allowed  him  again  to  hail  his  people;  when, 
instead  of  money,  he  desired  them  to  send  on  shore  Antonio 
Michael  (an  old  man  they  had  taken  in  at  New  Orleans),  as  the 
only  possible  means  left  for  him  of  effecting  his  own  escape.  The 
Arabs  finding,  on  his  reaching  the  shore,  that  he  had  brought  no 
money  with  him,  struck  him,  pricked  him  with  their  sharp  knives, 
and  stripped  him  of  all  his  clothes.  Mr.  Riley  seized  this  op- 
portunity of  springing  from  his  keepers,  and  plunged  into  the  sea. 
On  rising  through  the  surf,  he  perceived  the  old  Arab  within  ten 
feet  of  him,  up  to  his  chin  in  water,  with  his  spear  ready  to  strike 
him;  but  another  surf  rolling  at  that  instant  over  him,  save'd  his 
life,  and  he  reached  the  lee  of  the  wreck  in  safety.  The  re- 
morseless brutes  wreaked  their  vengeance  on  poor  Antonio,  by 
plunging  a  spear  into  his  body,  which  laid  him  lifeless  at  their 
feet. 

The  wreck  was,  by  this  time,  going  rapidly  to  pieces;  the  long 
boat  writhed  like  an  old  basket.  The  crew  had  neither  provisions 
nor  water;  neither  oars  nor  a  rudder  to  the  boat;  neither  compass 
nor  quadrant  to  direct  their  course ;  yet,  hopeless  as  their  situation 
was,  and  expecting  to  be  swallowed  up  by  the  first  surf,  they,  re- 
solved to  try  their  fate  on  the  ocean,  rather  than  to  encounter  death 
from  the  relentless  savages  on  shore.  By  great  exertion,  they 
succeeded  in  finding  a  water  cask,  out  of  which  they  filled  four 

fallons  into  a  keg.  One  of  the  seamen,  Porter,  stole  on  shore 
y  the  hawser,  and  brought  on  board  two  oars,  with  a  small  bag 
of  money  which  they  had  buried,  containing  about  four  hundred 
dollars.  They  also  contrived  to  get  together  a  few  pieces  of  salt 
pork,  a  live  pig,  weighing  about  twenty  pounds,  about  four  pounds 
of  figs,  a  spar  for  the  boat's  mast,  a  jib,  and  a  main  sail.  Every 
thing  being  ready,  the  crew  went  to  prayers;  and  the  wind  ceas- 
ing to  blow,  the  boat  was  launched  through  the  breakers.  In  this 
miserable  boat  they  determined  to  stand  out  in  the  wide  ocean. 
After  being  six  days  at  sea,  it  was  driven  on  the  rocks,  and  com- 
pletely stove,  but  the  crew  again  reached  the  shore. 

On  the  next  morning  they  set  out  from  the  place  where  they 
had  been  cast,  which,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  was  Cape 
Bar'ms,  not  far  from  Cape  Blanco.  They  proceeded  easterly 
close  to  the  water's  edge,  for  three  days,  when  they  encountered 
a  large  company  of  Arabs  who  were  watering  their  camels.  The 
shipwrecked  mariners  bowed  themselves  to  the  ground  with  every 
mark  of  submission,  and  by  signs  implored  their  compassion,  but 
in  vain.  The  whole  party  were  in  an  instant  stripped  naked  to 
the  skin,  and  the  Arabs  began  to  fight  most  furiously  for  the  booty, 
and  especially  for  getting  possession  of  the  prisoners.  "  Six  or 
eight  of  them,"  says  Captain  Riley,  whose  narrative  we  now 


CAPTAIN    RILEY.  317 

quote.,  "were  about  me,  one  hauling  me  one  way,  and  one  another. 
The  one  who  stripped  us,  stuck  to  us  as  his  lawful  property  signi- 
fying, "you  may  have  the  others,  these  are  mine." — They  cut 
at  each  other  over  my  head,  and  on  every  side  of  me,  with  their 
briirht  weapons,  which  fairly  whizzed  through  the  air  within  an 
inch  of  my  naked  body,  and  on  every  side  of  me,  now  hacking 
each  other's  arms  apparently  to  the  bone;  men  laying  their  ribs 
bare  with  gashes,  while  their  heads,  hands,  and  thighs  received  a 
full  share  of  cuts  and  wounds.  The  blood  streaming  from  every 
gash,  ran  down  their  bodies,  coloring  and  heightening  the  natural 
hideousness  of  their  appearance.  I  had  expected  to  be  cat  to 
pieces,  in  this  dreadful  affray,  but  was  not  injured. 

"  The  battle  over,  I  satf  my  distressed  companions  divided 
umong  the  Arabs,  and  all  going  towards  the  drove  of  camels, 
though  they  were  at  some  distance  from  me.  We  too  were  deliv- 
ered into  the  hands  of  two  old  women,  who  urged  us  on  with  sticks 
towards  the  camels.  Naked  and  barefooted,  we  could  not  go  very 
fast,  and  I  showed  the  women  my  mouth,  which  was  parched 
white  as  frost,  and  without  a  sign  of  moisture.  When  we  got 
near  the  well,  one  of  the  women  called  for  another,  who  came  to 
us  with  a  wooden  bowl  that  held,  I  should  guess,  about  a  gallon 
of  water,  and  setting  it  on  the  ground,  made  myself  and  Dick 
kneel  down  and  put  our  heads  into  it  like  camels.  I  drank,  I  sup- 
pose, half  a  gallon,  though  I  had  been  very  particular  in  caution- 
ing the  men  against  drinking  too  much  at  a  time,  in  case  they 
ever  came  to  water.  I  now  experienced  how  much  easier  it  was 
to  preach,  than  to  practise  aright.  They  then  led  us  to  the  well, 
the  water  of  which  was  nearly  as  black  and  disgusting  as  stale 
bilge  water.  A  large  bowl  was  now  filled  with  it,  and  a  little  sour 
camel's  milk  poured  from  a  goat  skin  into  it;  this  tasted  to  me  de- 
licious, and  we  all  drank  of  it  till  our  stomachs  were  literally  rill- 
ed. We  now  begged  for  something  to  eat,  but  these  Arabs  had 
nothing  for  themselves,  and  seemed  very  sorry  it  was  not  in  their 
power  to  give  us  some  food.  There  were  at  and  about  the  well, 
I  should  think,  about  one  hundred  persons,  men,  women,  and 
children,  and  from  four  to  five  hundred  camels,  large  and  small. 
The  sun  beat  fiercely  upon  us,  and  our  skins  seemed-actually  to 
frv  like  meat  before  the  fire.  These  people  continued  to  draw 
water  for  their  camels,  of  which  the  animals  drank  enormous 
quantities." 

The  party  travelled  south-east  over  a  plain  covered  with  small 
sharp  stones,  which  lacerated  their  feet  dreadfully.  About  mid- 
night they  halted,  and  for  the  first  time  got  about  a  pint  of  pure 
camel's  milk  each.  The  wind  was  chilling  cold;  they  lay  on 
sharp  stones,  perfectly  naked  ;  their  bodies  blistered  and  mangled, 
and  the  stones  piercing  their  naked  flesh  to  the  ribs.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1 1th  (September),  a  pint  of  milk  was'divided  among  four 
of  them,  and  they  got  nothing  more  until  midnight,  when  they 

27* 


318  CAPTAIN    RILET. 

were  allowed  a  little  milk  and  water.  They  continued  travelling 
in  the  desert,  enduring  all  the  miseries  of  hunger,  thirst,  and 
fatigue,  with  every  addition  Arab  cruelty  could  inflict,  until  they 
reached  Wadnoon.  Sidi  Hamet,  an  African  trader,  who  had  pur- 
chased them  of  the  old  Arab,  however,  became  the  means  of  their 
deliverance.  He  told  Mr.  Riley,  that  he  must  write  a  letter  to 
his  friend  at  Suara,  desiring  him  to  pay  the  money  for  the  ransom 
of  himself  and  people,  when  they  should  be  free.  A  scrap  of  pa- 
per, a  reed,  and  some  black  liquor,  was  then  brought  to  Mr.  Riley, 
who  briefly  wrote  the  circumstances  of  the  loss  of  the  ship,  his  cap- 
tivity, Stc.  adding,  "  worn  down  to  the  bone  by  the  most  dreadful  of 
all  sufferings,  naked,  and  a  slave,  I  implore  your  pity,  and  trust  that 
such  distress  will  not  be  suffered  to  plead  in  vain."  The  letter 
was  addressed,  "  To  the  English,  French,  Spanish,  or  American 
Consuls,  or  any  Christian  merchant  in  Mogadore."  The  anxiety 
of  the  captives  may  be  well  imagined.  For  seven  days  after  Ha- 
rriet's departure,  they  were  shut  up  in  a  yard  during  the  day,  where 
cows,  sheep,  and  asses,  rested;  and  locked  up  all  night  in  a  dreary 
cellar. 

On  the  evening  of  the  eighth  day,  a  Moor  came  into  the  inclosure, 
and  brought  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wiltshire,  the  English  Consul, 
stating,  that  he  had  agreed  to  the  demand  of  Sidi  Hamet,  whom 
he  kept  as  an  hostage  for  their  safe  appearance,  and  that  the 
bearer  would  conduct  them  to  Mogadore.  He  had  also  sent  them 
clothes  and  provisions;  and  thus  accoutred  and  fortified,  they  set 
out  under  their  new  conductor,  who  brought  them  safe  to  Moga- 
dore, where  they  were  most  kindly  received  by  Mr.  Wiltshire, 
who  took  each  man  by  the  hand,  and  welcomed  him  to  life  and 
liberty.  He  conducted  them  to  his  house,  had  them  all  washed, 
clothed,  and  fed,  and  spared  no  pains  nor  expense  in  procuring 
every  comfort,  and  in  administering  with  his  own  hand,  night  and 
day,  such  refreshment  as  their  late  sufferings  and  debility  required. 
Of  the  miserable  condition  to  which  these  unfortunate  men  had 
been  reduced,  one  act  will  witness.  "At  the  instance  of  Mr. 
Wiltshire,"  says  Mr.  Riley,  "  I  was  weighed,  and  fell  short  of 
ninety  pounds,  though  my  usual  weight  for  the  last  ten  years  had 
been  over  two  hundred  pounds;  the  weight  of  my  companions  was 
less  than  I  dare  to  mention,  for  1  apprehended  it  would  not  be  be- 
lieved that  the  bodies  of  men,  retaining  the  vital  spark,  should  not 
have  weighed  forty  pounds! 


ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN    WOODWARD.  319 

ADVENTURES  OF  CAPTAIN  WOODWARD  AND  FIVE 
SEAMEN  IN  THE  ISLAND  OF  CELEBES. 

In  the  year  1791,  Woodward  sailed  from  Boston  for  the  East  In- 
dies.* On  his  arrival  there  he  was  employed  in  making  country 
voyages  until  the  20th  of  January,  when  he  sailed  as  chief-mate 
in  an  American  ship  from  Batavia  bound  to  Manilla. 

In  passing  through  the  straits  of  Macassar,  they  found  the  wind 
and  current  both  against  them,  and  after  beating  up  for  six  weeks 
they  fell  short  of  provision.  Captain  Woodward  and  rive  seamen 
were  sent  to  purchase  some  from  a  vessel  about  four  leagues  dis- 
tant. They  were  without  water,  provisions,  or  compass, — having 
on  board  the  boat  only  an  axe,  a  boat  hook,  two  penknives,  a  use- 
less gun  and  forty  dollars  in  cash. 

They  reached  the  ship  at  sunset,  and  were  told  by  the  captain 
that  he  had  no  provision  to  spare  as  he  was  bound  to  China  and 
was  victualled  for  only  one  month.  He  advised  them  to  stay  until 
morning,  which  they  did.  But  when  morning  dawned,  their  own 
ship  was  Qjit  of  sight  even  from  the  mast  head,  and  with  a  fair 
wind  for  her  to  go  through  the  straits  of  Macassar.  Being  treat- 
ed coolly  by  the  captain,  they  agreed  with  one  voice  to  leave  the 
ship  in  search  of  their  own.  On  leaving  the  vessel,  the  captain 
gave  them  twelve  musket  cartridges  and  a  round  bottle  of  brandy, 
but  neither  water  nor  provisions  of  any  sort. 

They  rowed  till  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  in  hopes  of  seeing  their 
own  vessel,  and  then  drawing  near  an  island  they  thought  it  pru- 
dent to  go  there  to  get  some  fresh  water.  They  landed  and  made 
a  large  fire  in  hopes  their  ship  might  see  it.  But  not  being  able 
to  see  any  thing  of  her  in  the  morning  and  finding  no  water  or 
provisions  on  the  island,  they  continued  their  course  in  the  middle 
of  the  straits  six  days  longer,  without  going  on  shore  or  tasting  of 
any  thing  but  brandy.  They  soon  had  the  shore  of  Celebes  in 
sight,  where  they  determined  to  go  in  search  of  provisions  and 
then  to  proceed  to  .Macassar. 

As  they  approached  the  shore  they  saw  two  proas  full  of  natives, 
who  immediately  put  themselves  in  a  posture  of  defence.  The 
sailors  made  signs  to  them  that  they  wanted  provisions,  but  instead 
of  giving  it  the  Malays  began  to  brandish  their  cresses  or  steel 
daggers.  Three  of  the  men  jumped  on  board  a  proa  to  beg  some 
Indian  corn,  and  got  three  or  four  small  ears.  The  chief  seemed 
quite  friendly  and  agreed  to  sell  captain  Woodward  two  cocoa  nuts 
for  a  dollar,  but  as  soon  as  he  had  received  the  money,  he  imme- 
diately began  to  strip  him  in  search  of  more.  Captain  Woodward 
defended  himself  with  a  hatchet  and  ordered  the  boat  to  be  shov- 

*  In  the  ship  Robert  Morris,  Captain  Hay. 


320  ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN    WOODWARD. 

ed  off,  the  chief  levelled  a  musket  at  him,  but  fortunately  it  missed 
him. 

They  then  stood  off,  went  round  a  point  of  land  and  landed  out 
of  sight  of  the  proas,  when  they  found  a  plenty  of  cocoa-nut  trees. 
Captain  Woodward  while-engaged  in  cutting  them  down,  heard  the 
man  whom  he  had  left  to  take  care  of  the  boat  scream  out  in  a 
most  bitter  manner.  He  ran  immediately  to  the  beach  where  he 
saw  his  own  boat  off  at  some  distance  full  of  Malays  and  the  poor 
fellow  who  was  guarding  it  lying  on  his  back  with  his  throat  cut 
and  his  body  stabbed  in  several  places. 

They  now  fled  immediately  to  the  mountains,  and  finding  that 
they  had  lost  their  boat,  money,  and  most  of  their  clothes,  they 
concluded  that  their  only  chance  of  escape  was  to  get  to  Macassar 
by  land.  Being  afraid  to  travel  in  the  day  time,  they  set  out  in  the 
evening  taking  a  star  for  their  guide  bearing  south.  But  they 
soon  lost  sight  of  the  star  and  at  day  light  found  themselves  within 
a  few  rods  of  the  place,  where  they  had  set  out.  They  had  travel- 
led on  the  side  of  a  mountain,  and  had  gone  quite  round  it  instead 
of  going  straight  over  it.  They  started  again  and  travelled  by  the 
sea  shore  six  nights  successively,  living  on  berries  and  water 
found  in  the  hollows  of  trees. 

On  the  sixth  they  arrived  at  a  bay  where  they  saw  1C  party  of 
the  Maylays  fishing.  Here  Captain  Woodward  found  some  yellow- 
ish berries  which  were  to  him  quite  palatable,  but  his  men  not 
liking  them  eat  some  of  the  leaves.  On  the  next  day  they  con- 
cluded to  make  a  raft  and  go  to  the  small  island  on  which  they 
first  landed,  thinking  that  they  might  be  taken  off  from  it  by  some 
ship  passing  that  way.  But  they  were  obliged  to  abandon  this 
project,  for  in  the  evening  the  men  who  had  eaten  the  leaves,  were 
attacked  with  violent  pains  and  were  crying  out  in  torture  during  the 
whole  night.  Although  they  got  better  towards  evening  yet  they 
were  so  weak  and  dejected  that  Captain  Woodward  was  convinced 
that  they  could  not  reach  the  island  and  asked  them  if  they  were  wil- 
ting to  surrender  themselves  to  the  Malays.  On  reflection  they  alf 
thought  this  the  best  course  which  they  could  take;  and  forthwith 
proceeded  to  the  bay  where  they  had  seen  the  Malays  in  the  morn- 
ing, in  order  at  once  either  to  find  friends  or  to  meet  their  fate 
At  first  they  saw  no  one,  but  Captain  Woodward  soon  saw  three  of 
the  natives  approaching  him;  and  ordering  his  men  to  keep  quiet, 
he  advanced  alone  until  he  had  come  within  a  short  distance  of 
them,  where  they  stopped  and  drew  out  their  cresses  or  knives. 
Captain  Woodward  fell  on  his  knees  and  begged  for  mercy.  The 
Malays  looked  at  him  for  about  ten  minutes  with  their  knives 
drawn  when  one  of  them  came  towards  him,  knelt  in  the  same 
manner  and  offered  both  his  hands.  More  natives  now  came  up 
and  stripped  them  of  their  hats  and  handkerchiefs  and  even  the 
buttons  on  their  jackets,  which  they  took  for  money. 

They  were  now  taken  to  Travalla  and  carried  to  the  court-house 


ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN    WOODWARD.  321 

or  judgment  hall,  accompanied  by  a  great  concourse  of  people, 
including  women  and  children  who  made  a  circle  at  some  distance 
from  them.  The  chief  soon  entered,  looking  as  wild  as  a  mad- 
man, carrying  in  his  hand  a  large  drawn  cress  or  knife,  the  blade 
of  which  was  two  feet  and  a  half  long  and  very  bright.  Captain 
Woodward  approached  so  near  to  him  as  to  place  the  foot  of  the 
chief  on  his  own  head,  as  a  token  that  he  was  completely  under 
his  power  and  direction.  The  chief  after  holding  a  short  consul- 
tation, returned  to  his  house  and  brought  out  five  pieces  of  betel 
nut,  which  he  gave  to  the  sailors  as  a  token  of  friendship. 

They  were  now  permitted  to  rest  until  about  eight  o'clock 
when  they  were  carried  to  the  Rajah's  house,  where  they  found  a 
supper  provided  for  them  of  sago-bread  and  peas,  but  in  all 
hardly  enough  for  one  man.  Their  allowance  afterwards  was  for 
each  man  a  cocoa  nut  and  an  ear  of  Indian  corn  at  noon,  and  the 
same  at  night.  In  this  manner  they  lived  about  twenty  days,  but 
were  not  allowed  to  go  out  except  to  the  water  to  bathe.  But  the 
natives  soon  began  to  relax  their  vigilance  over  them,  and  in 
about  four  months,  they  were  conveyed  to  the  head  Rajah  of  Par- 
low.  They  had  not  been  there  long  when  the  head  Rajah  sent  to 
a  Dutch  port  called  Priggia,  which  is  at  the  head  of  a  deep  bay 
on  the  east  side  of  the  island  and  which  is  under  the  care  of  a 
commandant.  In  a  few  days  the  commandant  who  was  a  French-, 
man,  and  had  been  thirty  years  in  the  Dutch  service,  arrived  at 
Parlow  and  sent  for  Captain  Woodward.  He  wished  him  to  go 
with  him  to  Priggia  where  he  resided,  but  Captain  Woodward  re- 
fused, being  apprehensive  that  he  should  be  forced  into  the  Dutch 
service.  The  commandant  then  inquired  where  he  intended  to 
go.  He  answered  to  Batavia  or  Macassar  and  thence  to  Bengal. 
He  did  not  offer  Captain  Woodward  or  his  people  either  money, 
assistance,  or  clothes,  but  seemed  quite  affronted. 

The  Rajah  now  gave  him  the  liberty  of  returning  to  Travalla, 
taking  care,  however,  to  send  him  in  the  night  for  fear  that  he 
should  get  sight  of  Dungally,  where  there  lived  a  Mahomedan 
priest  called  Juan  Hadgee.  This  priest  had  been  at  Travalla, 
and  offered  a  ransom  for  Captain  Woodward  and  his  men,  but  the 
natives  were  unwilling  to  take  it,  and  were  fearful  that  their  cap- 
tives would  try  to  escape  to  the  town  where  the  priest  lived.  It 
happened,  however,  that  they  were  becalmed  off  Dungally,  so  that 
Captain  Woodward  could  observe  its  situation.  On  arriving  at 
Travalla,  he  attempted  to  escape  alone  by  water,  but  the  canoe 
being  leaky,  he  came  very  near  losing  his  life.  But  not  discour 
aged,  he  started  immediately  for  Dungally  by  land,  and  reached 
it  just  as  the  day  dawned. 

Juan  Hadgee  received  him  kindly  and  provided  him  with  food 
and  clothing.  In  the  course  of  three  days  the  chief  of  Travalla 
learning  that  he  had  gone  to  Dungally,  sent  after  him,  but  the  old 
priest  and  the  Rajah  of  Dungally  refused  to  let  him  go.  They 


322  ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN    WOODWARD. 

told  him  that  in  the  course  of  three  months  they  would  convey 
him  to  Batavia  or  Macassar,  and  also  desired  him  to  send  for  the 
four  men  he  had  left  at  Travalla.  This  he  did  by  means  of  a  let- 
ter which  he  wrote  with  a  pen  of  bamboo,  and  sent  by  the  captain 
of  a  proa,  who  delivered  it  secretly.  The  men  made  their  es.- 
cape  from  Parlow  at  the  time  of  a  feast,  early  in  the  evening, 
and  arrived  at  Dungally  at  about  twelve  o'clock  the  next  day. 
They  were  received  with  great  rejoicing  by  the  natives,  who  im- 
mediately brought  them  plenty  of  victuals.  And  this  fortunate 
circumstance  revived  their  hopes  of  reaching  some  European 
settlement,  after  many  narrow  escapes  and  difficulties. 

Juan  Hadgee  now  informed  Captain  Woodward  that  he  should 
set  off  in  about  two  months,  but  that  he  must  first  make  a  short 
voyage  for  provisions,  which  he  did,  leaving  Captain  Woodward 
in  his  house  with  his  wife  and  two  servants. 

They  soon  began  to  suffer  exceedingly  for  the  want  of  provi- 
sions, so  that  the  natives  were  obliged  to  convey  them  up  the 
country,  there  to  be  supplied  by  some  of  the  same  tribe,  who 
regularly  went  from  the  village  into  the  country  at  a  certain  sea- 
son to  cultivate  rice  and  Indian  corn.  But  the  Rajah  of  Parlow 
making  war  on  the  Rajah  of  Dungally,  because  the  latter  would 
not  deliver  them  up,  they  were  soon  brought  back  to  Dungally. 
There  was  but  one  engagement,  and  then  the  men  of  Parlow 
were  beaten  and  driven  back  to  their  own  town. 

Provisions  again  growing  scarce,  Juan  Hadgee  was  bound  for 
another  port  called  Sawyah,  situated  about  two  degrees  north  of 
the  line.  He  gave  Captain  Woodward  permission  to  accompany 
him,  provided  the  Rajah  was  willing,  but  the  latter  refused,  saying 
that  he  must  stay  there  and  keep  guard.  Captain  Woodward  now 
mustered  his  men  and  taking  their  guns  they  went  to  the  house 
of  the  Rajah  and  told  him  they  would  stand  guard  no  longer  for 
they  wished  to  go  to  Macassar.  He  immediately  replied  that 
they  should  not.  Being  determined  not  to  live  longer  in  this 
manner,  and  rinding  no  other  means  of  escaping,  Captain  Wood- 
ward came  to  the  resolution  of  stealing  a  canoe,  to  which  all  the 
men  agreed.  They  were  lucky  enough  to  obtain  one  and  seemed 
in  a  fair  way  to  make  their  escape,  but  just  as  they  were  getting 
into  it  they  were  surrounded  by  about  twenty  natives  and  carried 
before  the  Rajah,  who  ordered  them  to  account  for  their  conduct. 
They  told  him  that  they  could  get  nothing  to  eat,  and  were  deter- 
mined to  quit  the  place  on  the  first  opportunity  that  offered. 
Nothing  of  consequence  resulted  from  this.  Knowing  the  lan- 
guage arid  people  they  had  now  become  fearless  of  danger. 

The  Rajah  refusing  to  let  them  go  with  Juan  Hadgee  they  de- 
termined to  run  away  with  him,  which  they  were  enabled  to  do,  as 
the  old  man  set  out  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  and  there  happen- 
ed luckily  to  be  a  canoe  on  the  beach  near  his  own.  This  they 
took  and  followed  him  as  well  as  they  could,  but  they  soon  parted 


ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN    WOODWARD.  323 

from  him,  and  in  the  morning  discovered  a  proa  close  by  them  fill- 
ed with  Malays.  They  told  them  that  they  were  bound  with  the 
old  man  to  Sawyah.  The  Malays  took  them  at  their  word  and 
carried  them  there  instead  of  to  Dungally,  which  was  a  lucky 
escape  to  them  for  that  time.  Whilst  residing  at  Sawyah  the  old 
priest  carried  Captain  Woodward  to  an  island  in  the  bay  of  Saw- 
yah, which  he  granted  to  him,  and  in  compliment  called  it  Steers- 
man's island;  steersman  being  the  appellation  by  which  Captain 
Woodward  was  distinguished  by  the  natives.  After  staying  some 
time  in  Sawyah  and  making  sago,  which  they  bartered  for  fish  and 
cocoa-nuts,  they  left  the  place  and  proceeded  to  Dumpolis,  a  little 
to  the  southward  of  Sawyah.  Juan  Hadgee  soon  left  this  place 
for  Tomboo  about  a  days'  sail  south,  where  he  had  business. 
Here  Captain  Woodward  and  his  men  also  followed  him.  The  old 
priest  was  willing  to  assist  them  to  escape  from  here,  but  was  evi- 
dently unable  to  do  it,  Tomboo  being  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rajah  of  Dungally. 

Fortunately  they  succeeded  ,in  stealing  a  canoe  in  the  night, 
and  once  more  shoving  off,  they  directed  their  course  to  a  small 
island  in  the  bay,  where  they  landed  at  daybreak.  Not  being  able 
to  find  water  here  as  they  expected,  they  landed  at  another  point 
of  land,  which  they  knew  to  be  uninhabited.  Having  obtained 
water  and  repaired  their  canoe,  they  directed  their  course  to  Ma- 
cassar, which  was  then  about  five  degrees  to  the  southward. 
After  coasting  along  the  island  for  the  space  of  eight  days,  during 
which  time  they  were  twice  very  nearly  taken  by  the  Malays, 
they  arrived  at  a  part  of  the  island  of  Celebes,  which  was  very 
thickly  inhabited. 

They  passed  many  towns  and  saw  many  proas  within  the  har- 
bors. Having  observed  a  retired  place,  they  landed  to  procure 
some  fresh  water,  but  they  had  hardly  got  a  draught  each,  when  two 
canoes  were  seen  coming  to  the  very  place  where  they  were. 
They  immediately  shoved  off  and  kept  on  their  course  all  day. 
Just  as  the  sun  went  down  they  discovered  two  canoes  not  far 
from  them  fishing.  As  soon  as  Hie  natives  saw  them  they  made 
the  best  of  their  way  to  the  shore.  Captain  Woodward  wished  to 
inquire  the  distance  to  Macassar,  but  not  being  able  to  stop  them 
he  made  for  one  of  two  canoes  which  he  saw  at  a  distance  lying 
at  anchor.  Being  told  that  the  captain  was  below  and  asleep 
he  went  down  and  awakened  him.  He  came  on  deck  with  three 
or  four  men  all  armed  with  spears,  and  inquired  where  they  were 
going.  Captain  Woodward  told  him  to  Macassar  and  inquired  of 
him  the  distance  to  that  place.  He  answered"  that  it  would  take 
a  month  and  a  day  to  reach  it.  Captain  Woodward  told  him  it  was 
not  true,  and  made  the  best  of  his  way  off.  The  Malays  however 
made  chase,  but  Captain  Woodward  and  his  men  by  putting  out  to 
sea  and  making  great  exertion,  soon  lost  sight  of  them  and  were 
able  again  to  stand  in  towards  the  land. 


324  ADVENTURES    OF    CAPTAIN     WOODWARD. 

At  daylight  they  discovered  a  number  of  fishing  canoes,  two 
of  which  made  towards  them.  They  let  them  come  alongside  as 
there  was  only  one  man  in  each.  One  of  them  came  on  board 
and  Captain  Woodward  piTt  the  same  question  to  him  respecting 
Macassar.  He  first  said  it  would  take  thirty  days  to  reach  there 
and  asked  them  to  go  on  shore  and  see  the  Rajah.  But  they  de- 
clined doing  this,  and  he  afterwards  acknowledged  that  a  proa 
could  go  there  in  two  days. 

They  then  left  the  canoe  and  sailed  along  the  coast.  At 
evening  they  perceived  a  proa  full  of  Malay  men  set  off  from  the 
shore.  It  was  soon  along  side,  and  four  or  five  of  them  jumping 
into  the  boat  they  nearly  upset  her,  and  thus  Captain  Woodward 
and  his  men  were  again  prisoners  of  the  Malays.  They  were 
carried  to  a  tovvn  called  Pamboon  and  then  conducted  to  the 
Rajah's  house.  The  Rajah  demanded  of  them  whence  they  came 
and  whither  they  were  going.  Captain  Woodward  answered  the 
same  as  before;  he  also  told  him  that  they  must  go  immediately, 
and  must  not  be  stopped.  They  had  now  become  so  familiar  with 
dangers  and  with  capturesr  and  were  also  so  much  nearer  Macas- 
sar, than  they  could  have  expected  after  so  many  narrow  escapes, 
that  they  became  more  and  more  desperate  and  confident,  from 
the  persuasion  that  they  should  at  last  reach  their  destined  port. 

In  the  morning  Captain  Woodward  again  waited  on  the  Rajah, 
and  begged  to  be  sent  to  Macassar;  telling  him  that  the  Govern- 
or had  sent  for  them,  who  would  stop  all  his  proas  at  Macassar 
if  he  detained  them.  After  thinking  on  it  a  short  time,  he  called 
the  captain  of  a  proa,  and  delivered  the  prisoners  to  him,  telling 
him  to  carry  them  to  Macassar,  and  if  he  could  get  any  thing  for 
them,  to  take  it,  but  if  not  to  let  them  go.  The  proa  not  being 
ready  they  stayed  in  their  canoe  three  days,  quite  overcome  by 
their  many  hardships  and  fatigues.  Captain  Woodward  having 
had  no  shirt,  the  sun  had  burnt  his  shoulder  so  as  to  lay  it  quite 
bare  and  produce  a  bad  sore.  Here  he  caught  cold,  and  was  soon 
attacked  with  a  violent  fever,  so  that  by  the  time  the  proa  was 
ready  to  sail  he  was  unable  to  stand.  He  was  carried  and 
laid  on  the  deck  without  a  mat  or  any  kind  of  clothing.  The 
cold  nights  and  frequent  showers  of  rain  would  without  doubt 
have  killed  him,  had  he  not  been  kept  alive  by  the  hopes  of  reach- 
ing Macassar,  the  thoughts  of  which  kept  up  all  their  spirits. 

They  landed  at  Macassar  on  the  15th  of  June  1795,  after  a 
voyage  of  about  nineteen  days  from  Tomboo,  and  after  having 
been  two  years  and  five  months  in  captivity;  the  reckoning  which 
Captain  Woodward  kept  during  that  time,  being  wrong  only  one 
day. 


SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    BLINDENHALL.  325 


SHIPWRECK  OF  THE  BLINDENHALL  ON  THE 
INACCESSIBLE  ISLAND. 

After  fortune  and  victory  had  finally  abandoned  Napoleon  on 
the  field  of  Waterloo,  and  it  had  been  determined  by  the  bellige- 
rent powers  that  the  fortress  of  St.  Helena  should  be  the  life 
prison  of  the  fallen  Emperor,  the  British  government  deemed  it  a 
measure  of  prudence  to  occupy  Tristan  Da  Cunha,  situated  about 
twenty  degrees  south  of  St.  Helena,  and  which,  in  the  event  of 
any  plot  for  a  rescue,  it  was  apprehended  might  have  afforded  a 
secure  rendezvous,  and  offered  considerable  facilities  for  com- 
bined and  ulterior  arrangements.  In  pursuance  of  that  determi- 
nation, a  company  of  artillery  was  stationed  on  Tristan  da  Cunha; 
a  temporary  framed  barrack  was  erected,  a  fort  constructed, 
provisions  were  laid  up,  a  few  milch  cows  and  calves  were  landed, 
and  the  British  flag  waved  over  the  melancholy  waste! 

About  thirty-five  miles  from  Tristan  da  Cunha  stands,  on  abase 
of  solid  rock,  the  Inaccessible  Island. 

In  1820-1,  the  Blindenhallj  free  trader,  bound  for  Bombay, 
partly  laden  with  broadcloths,  was  prosecuting  her  voyage,  and 
being  driven  by  adverse  winds  and  currents,  more  to  the  westward 
and  southward  than  her  course  required,  it  became  desirable  to 
make  Tristan  da  Cunha,  in  order  to  ascertain  and  rectify  the 
reckoning.  It  was  while  steering  to  effect  this  purpose,  that  one 
morning  a  passenger,  who  chanced  to  be  on  deck  earlier  than 
usual,  observed  gre'at  quantities  of  sea-weed  occasionally  floating 
alongside.  This  excited  some  alarm,  and  a  man  was  immediately 
sent  aloft  to  keep  a  good  look-out.  The  weather  was  then  *  ex- 
tremely hazy,  though  moderate;  the  weeds  continued — all  were 
on  the  alert;  they  shortened  sail,  and  the  boatswain  piped  for 
breakfast.  In  less  than  ten  minutes,  "  Breakers  a-head!"  startled 
every  soul,  and  in  a  moment  all  were  on  deck.  "  Breakers  star- 
board!— breakers  larboard! — breakers  all  around!"  was  the  omin- 
ous cry  a  moment  afterwards,  and  all  was  confusion.  The  words 
were  scarcely  uttered,  when — and  before  the  helm  was  up — the 
ill-fated  ship  struck,  arid,  after  a  few  tremendous  shocks  against 
the  sunken  reef,  she  parted  about  midship.  Ropes  and  stays 
were  cut  away — all  rushed  forward,  as  if  instinctively,  and  had 
barely  reached  the  forecastle,  when  the  stern  and  quarter  broke 
asunder  with  a  violent  crash,  and  sunk  to  rise  no  more.  Two  of  the 
seamen  miserably  perished;  the  rest,  including  officers,  passen- 
gers, and  crew,  held  on  about  the  head  and  bows; — the  struggle 
was  for  life! 

At  this  moment  the  Inaccessible  Island,  which  till  then  had 
been  veiled  in  clouds  and  thick  mist,  appeared  frowning  above  the 

28 


326  SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    BLINDENHALL. 

haze.  The  wreck  was  more  than  two  miles  from  the  frightful 
shore.  The  base  of  the  Island  was  still  buried  in  impenetrable 
gloom.  In  this  perilous  extremity  one  was  for  cutting  away  the 
anchor,  which  had  been  got  up  to  the  cat-head  in  time  of  need; 
another  was  for  cutting  down  the  foremast,  (the  foretopmast  being 
already  by  the  board).  The  fog  totally  disappeared,  and  the 
black  rocky  island  stood  in  all  its  rugged  deformity  before  their 
eyes!  Suddenly  the  sun  broke  out  in  full  splendor,  as  if  to  ex- 
pose more  clearly  to  the  view  of  the  sufferers  their  dreadful  pre- 
dicament. Despair  was  in  every  bosom;  death,  arrayed  in  all  its 
terrors,  seemed  to  hover  over  the  wreck.  But  exertion  was 
required,  and  Providence  inspired  unhoped  for  fortitude ; — every 
thing  that  human  energy  could  devise  was  effected;  and  the 
wreck  on  which  all  eagerly  clung,  was  miraculously  drifted  by 
the  tide  and  wind,  between  ledges  of  sunken  rocks  and  thunder- 
ing breakers,  until  after  the  lapse  of  six  hours,  it  entered  the  only 
spot  on  the  island  where  a  landing  was  possibly  practicable,  for 
all  the  other  parts  of  the  coast  consisted  of  perpendicular  cliffs 
of  granite  rising  from  amidst  deafening  surf,  to  the  height  of 
twenty,  forty,  and  sixty  feet.  As  the  shore  was  neared,  a  raft( 
was  prepared,  and  on  this  a  few  paddled  for  the  cove; — at  last  the 
wreck  drove  right  in;  ropes  were  instantly  thrown  out;  and  the 
crew  and  passengers  (except  two  who  had  been  crushed  in 
the  wreck,)  including  three  ladies  and  a  female  attendant,  were 
providentially  snatched  from  the  watery  grave,  which  a  few  short 
hours  before  had  appeared  inevitable, — and  safely  landed  on  the 
beach.  Evening  had  now  set  in,  and  every  effort  was  made  to 
secure-whatever  could  be  saved  from  the  wreck:  bales  of  cloth, 
cases  of  wine,  a  few  boxes  of  cheese,  some  hams,  the  carcass  of 
the  milch  cow  that  had  been  washed  on  shore,  buckets,  tubs, 
butts,  a  seaman's  chest  (containing  a  tinder-box,  and  needles  and 
thread),  with  a  number  of  elegant  mahogany  turned  bed-posts, 
part  of  an  investment  for  the  India  market,  were  got  on  shore. 
The  rain  poured  down  in  torrents,  all  hands  were  busily  at  work 
to  procure  a  shelter  from  the  weather,  and  with  the  bed-posts  and 
broadcloths,  and  part  of  the  foresail,  as  many  tents  were  soon 
pitched  as  there  were  individuals  in  the  island. 

Drenched  with  the  sea  and  with  the  rain, — hungry,  cold,  and 
comfortless,  thousands  of  miles  from  their  native  land,  almost  be- 
yond expectation  of  human  succor,  hope  nearly  annihilated,  the 
shipwrecked  voyagers  retired  to  their  tents,  some  devoutly  to 
prostrate  themselves  in  humble  thankfulness  before  that  merciful 
Being  who  had  so  wonderfully  delivered  them  from  destruction, 
others  to  rest  after  the  dreadful  fatigue  by  which  they  were 
exhausted,  and  some  to  drown  their  cares  in  wine.  In  the  morn- 
ing the  wreck  had  gone  to  pieces;  and  planks  and  spars  and 
whatever  had  floated  in,  were  eagerly  dragged  on  shore.  No 
uooner  was  the  unfortunate  ship  broken  up,  than,  deeming  them- 


SHIPWRECK    OF    THE    BLINDEXHALL  327 

selves  freed  from  the  bonds  of  authority,  many  began  to  secure 
whatever  came  to  land;  and  the  captain,  officers,  passengers  and 
crew,  were  now  reduced  to  the  same  level,  and  obliged  to  take 
their  turn  to  fetch  water,  aud  explore  the  island  for  food.  The 
work  of  exploring  was  soon  over:  there  was  not  a  bird,  nor  a 
quadruped,  nor  a  single  tree  to  be  seen!  All  was  barren  and 
desolate.  The  low  parts  were  scattered  over  with  stones  and 
sand,  and  a  few  stunted  weeds,  reeds,  fern  and  other  plants. 
The  top  of  the  mountain  was  found  to  consist  of  a  jfragment  of 
original  table-land,  very  marshy,  and  full  of  deep  sloughs,  inter- 
sected with  small  rills  of  water,  pure  and  pellucid  as  crystal,  and 
a  profusion  of  wild  parsley  and  celery.  The  prospect  was  one 
dreary  scene  of  destitution,  without  a  single  ray  of  hope  to  re- 
lieve the  misery  of  the  desponding  crew.  After  some  days  the 
dead  cow,  hams  and  cheese  were  consumed,  and  from  one  end  of 
the  Island  to  the  other,  not  a  morsel  of  food  could  be  seen.  Even 
the  celery  began  to  fail.  A  few  bottles  of  wine,  which,  for  security, 
had  been  secreted  under  ground,  only  remained.  Famine  now  be- 
gan to  threaten; — every  stone  near  the  sea  was  examined  for  shell 
fish,  but  in  vain.  In  this  extremity,  as  the  Quarter-master's  wife 
was  sitting  at  her  tent  door,  with  the  child  crying  at  her  breast, 
faint  and  exhausted, — a  group  of  half  starved  seamen  passed  by, 
when  one  of  them  turning  round  exclaimed  "  by  —  that  will  make 
a  drop  of  broth,  if  nothing  else  turns  up!"  The  observation  spoke 
daggers  to  the  poor  creature.  On  the  return  of  night,  as  the 
poor  hungry  wretches  were  squatting  in  sullen  dejection  round 
their  fires,  on  a  sudden  hundreds  of  birds  from  seaward  came 
actually  flying  through  the  flames^  many  fell  dead,  scorched  or 
suffocated,  and  thus  were  the  sufferers  again  rescued  for  a  time 
from  the  horrors  which  so  imminently  beset  them.  For  several 
nights  in  succession,  similar  flocks  came  in,  and  by  multiplying 
their  fires,  a  considerable  supply  was  secured. 

These  visits  however  ceased  at  length,  and  the  wretched  party 
were  again  exposed  to  the  most  severe  privation.  When  their 
stock  of  wild  fowl  had  been  exhausted  for  more  than  two  days, 
each  began  to  fear  they  were  now  approaching  that  sad  point  of 
necessity,  when  between  death  and  casting  lots  who  should  be 
sacrificed  to  serve  for  food  for  the  rest,  no  alternative  remains. 
While  horror  at  the  bare  contemplation  of  an  extremity  so  repulsive 
occupied  the  thoughts  of  all,  the  horizon  was  observed  to  be  sud- 
denly obscured,  and  presently  clouds  of  penguins  lighted  on  the 
island.  The  low  grounds  were  actually- covered;  and  before  the 
evening  was  dark,  the  sand  could  not  be  seen  for  the  numbers  of 
eggs,  which  like  a  sheet  of  snow,  lay  on  the  surface  of  the  earth! 
The  penguins  continued  on  the  island  four  or  five  days,  when,  as 
if  by  signal,  the  whole  took  their  flight,  and  were  never  seen 
again.  A  few  were  killed,  but  the  flesh  was  so  extremely  rank 
and  nauseous,  that  it  could  not  be  eaten.  The  eggs  were  col- 


328  THE    CLIFFS    OF    DOVER. 

lected,  and  dressed  in  all  manner  of  ways,  and  supplied  abundance 
of  food  for  upwards  of  three  weeks.  At  the  expiratioli  of  that 
period,  famine  once  more  seemed  inevitable;  the  third  morning 
began  to  dawn  upon  the  unfortunate  company,  after  their  stock 
of  eggs  were  exhausted;  they  had  now  been  without  food  lor 
more  than  forty  hours,  arid  were  fainting  and  dejected, — when,  as 
though  this  desolate  rock  were  really  a  land  of  miracles,  a  man 
came  running  up  to  the  encampment,  with  the  unexpected  and 
joyful  tidings,  that  "  millions  of  sea-cows  had  came  on  shore!" 
The  crew  climbed  over  the  ledge  of  rocks  which  flanked  their 
tents,  and  the  sight  of  a  shoal  of  manatees  immediately  beneath 
them  gladdened  their  hearts.  These  came  in  with  the  flood,  and 
were  left  in  the  puddles  between  the  broken  rocks  of  the  cove. 
This  supply  continued  for  two  or  thrfce  weeks.  The  flesh  was 
mere  blubber  and  quite  unfit  for  food,  for  not  a  man  could  retain 
it  on  his  stomach,  but  the  liver  was  excellent,  and  on  this  they 
subsisted.  In  the  meantime,  the  carpenter  with  his  gang  had 
constructed  a  boat,  and  four  of  the  men  had  adventured  in  her 
for  Tristan  da  Cunha,  in  hopes  of  ultimately  extricating  their 
fellow  sufferers  from  their  perilous  situation.  Unfortunately'  the 
boat  was  lost,  whether  carried  away  by  the  violence  of  the  cur- 
rents that  set  in  between  the  islands,  or  dashed  to  pieces  against 
the  breakers,  was  never  known,  for  no  vestige  of  the  boat  or  the 
crew  was  ever  seen.  Before  the  manatees,  however,  began  to 
quit  the  shore,  a  second  boat  was  launched;  and  in  this,  an  offi- 
cer and  some  seamen  made  a  second  attempt,  and  happily 
succeeded  in  effecting  their  landing,  after  much  labor,  on  the 
island  of  Governor  Glass.  He  received  them  most  cordially,  and 
with  humanity,  which  neither  time,  nor  place,  nor  total  seclusion 
from  the  world  had  enfeebled  or  impaired;  he  instantly  launched 
his  boat,  and,  unawed  by  considerations  of  personal  danger, 
hastened,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  to  deliver  his  shipwrecked  coun- 
trymen from  the  calamities  they  had  so  long  endured.  He  made 
repeated  trips,  surmounted  all  difficulties,  and  fortunately  succeed- 
ed in  safely  landing  them  on  his  own  island,  after  they  had  been 
exposed  for  nearly  three  months  to  the  horrors  of  a  situation 
almost  unparalleled  in  the  recorded  sufferings  of  seafaring  men. 


THE  CLIFFS  OF  DOVER. 

Dovtfr,  a  seaport  town  of  England,  in  the  county  of  Kent,  is 
situated  on  a  small  stream  which  falls  into  the  harbor.  It  lies  in 
a  valley  almost  surrounded  by  chalky  cliffs,  from  the  precipitation 
of  some  of  which  serious  accidents  have  ensued.  Dover  consists 


THE    CLIFFS    OF    DOVER. 


329 


chiefly  of  three  long  streets  converging  to  one  point;  the  upper 
part  called  the  town,  and  the  lower  the  pier.  It  is  defended  by 
a  strong  and  spacious  castle,  including  an  area  of  about  thirty- 
five  acres;  and  all  the  neighboring  heights  are  fortified.  It  oc- 
cupies a  lofty  eminence,  steep  and  rugged  towards  the  town  and 
harbor,  and  presents  a  precipitous  cliff  three  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  higher  than  the  sea.  Some  antiquaries  have  ascribed  its 
origin  to  the  Romans  under  Julius;  and  it  is  certain  that  a  Roman 
pharos,  or  watch-tower,  whose  site  exhibits  a  modern  redoubt, 
stood  in  the  neighborhood.  It  consists  of  numerous  edifices, 


Dover  Castle. 


among  which  are  many  towers,  erected  at  different  times,  and  all 
designated  by  particular  names.  The  keep,  which  stands  in  the 
upper  court  is  ninety-two  feet  high,  is  in  good  preservation, 
and  is  used, as  a  magazine.  Water  is  drawn  from  wells  three 
hundred  and  seventy  feet  deep  to  supply  the  garrison. 

The  castle  makes  a  distinguished  figure  in  history,  and  was 
once  deemed  impregnable;  but  it  was  surprised  tind  taken  by  a 
very  small  party  of  the  parliamentary  forces  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I.  Near  the  edge  of  the  cliff  there  is  a  beautiful  piece 
of  brass  ordnance,  twenty-four  feet  long,  and  carrying  a  twelve 
pound  ball:  it  is  finely  ornamented  by  figures  in  has  relief,  and 
was  made  at  Utrecht  in  1544.  Among  the  recent  improvements, 
and  fortifications  resulting  from  the  apprehension  of  invasion  by 
the  French,  are  subterraneous  works  and  casemates  capable  of 
accommodating  two  thousand  men. 

Dover  is  one  of  the  Cinque  Ports.  The  harbor  can  receive 
vessels  of  four  hundred  or  five  hundred  tons,  and  is  defended  by 

28* 


330  THE  MARINER'S  HYMN. 

strortg  batteries.  It  is  the  principal  place  of  embarkation  to 
France,  and  employs  twenty-seven  packets  for  that  purpose.  The 
channel  is  about  twenty-two  miles  wide.  There  are  hot  and  cold 
baths  here,  and  the  town  is  much  resorted  to  in  summer  for  sea- 
bathing. Samphire  is  still  gathered  from  the  cliffs  as  in  the  days 
of  Shakspeare,  and  employed  in  making  a  fine  flavored  pickle. 

About  six  miles  from  Dover,  between  Bologne  and  Folkstone, 
is  a  narrow  submarine  hill,  called  the  Rip-raps,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  broad,  and  ten  miles  long,  extending  eastward,  towards 
the  Goodwin  sands.  Its  materials  are  boulder-stones,  adventitious 
to  many  strata.  The  depth  of  water  on  it,  in  very  low  spring 
tides,  is  only  fourteen  feet.  The  fishermen  from  Folkstone  have 
often  touched  it  with  a  fifteen  feet  oar:  so  that  it  is  justly  the 
dread  of  navigators.  Many  a  tall  ship  has  struck  on  it,  and  sunk 
instantly  into  twenty-one  fathoms  of  water.  In  July,  1782,  the 
Belleisle,  of  sixty-four  guns,  struck  and  lay  on  it  during  three 
hours;  but,  by  starting  her  beer  and  water,  got  clear  off.  It  is 
said  that  the  breadth  of  the  straits  between  Dover  and  Calais,  is 
diminishing;  and  that  they  are  two  miles  narrower  thijn  they  were 
in  ancient  times.  An  accurate  observer  for  fifty  years  remarks 
that  the  increased  height  of  water,  from  a  decrease  of  breadth, 
has  been  apparent,  even  in  that  space. 


THE  MARINER'S  HYMN. 

Launch  thy  bark,  Mariner  ! 
Christian  !  God  speed  thee — 
Let  loose  the  rudder-bands — 
Good  angels  lead  thee  ! 
Set  thy  sails  warily, 
Tempests  will  come — 
Steer  thy  bark  steadily, 
Christian  !  steer  home  ! 

Look  to  the  weather-bow, 
Breakers  are  round  thee — 
Let  fall  thy  plummet  now, 
Shallows  may  ground  thee  ! 
Reef  in  the  foresail,  there  ! 
Hold  the  helm  fast ! — 
So — let  the  vessel  wear — 
Tlrwe  swept  the  blast. 

What  of  the  night,  watchmen  ? 
What  of  the  night  ? 
"  Cloudy — all  quiet — 
No  land  yet — all's  right ! 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE-FISHERY.  331 

Be  wakeful — be  vigilant — 
Danger  may  be 
At  an  hour  when  all  seemest 
Securest  to  thee. 

How  gains  the  leak  so  fast  ? 
Clear  out  the  hold — 
Hoist  up  the  merchandise — 
Heave  out  thy  gold  ! 
There— let  the  ingots  go ! 
Now  the  ship  rights — 
Huzza  !  the  harbour's  near — 
Lo  !  the  red  lights  ! 

Slacken  not  sail  yet 
At  inlet  or  island  ; 
Straight  for  the  beacon  steer, 
Straight  for  the  high-laud  : 
Crowd  all  thy  canvass  on, 
Cut  through  the  foam — 
Christian  !  Cast  anchor  now — 
Heaven  is  thy  home  !" 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  WHALE-FISHERY; 

WITH    ANECDOTES    OF    THE    DANGERS    &CC.    ATTENDING    IT. 

Historians,  in  general,  have  given  to  the  Bis-cayans  the  credit 
of  having  first  practised  the  fishery  for  the  whale;  the  English, 
and  afterwards  the  Dutch  are  supposed  to  have  followed  in 
the  pursuit.  It  was  prosecuted  by  the  Norwegians  so  early  as 
the  ninth  century,  and  by  the  Icelanders  about  the  eleventh.  It 
was  not  till  the  seventeenth  century,  however,  that  the  whale  fish- 
ery was  engaged  in  by  the  maritime  nations  of  Europe  as  an  im- 
portant branch  of  commerce. 

The  crew  of  a  whale-ship  usually  consists  of  forty  to  fifty  men, 
comprising  several  classes  of  officers,  such  as  harpooners,  boat- 
steerers,  line-managers,  &c.,  together  with  fore-mast-men,  land- 
men,  and  apprentices.  As  a  stimulus  to  the  crew  in  the  fishery, 
every  individual,  from  the  master  down  to  the  boys,  besides  his 
monthly  pay,  receives  either  a  gratuity  for  every  size  fish  caught 
during  the  voyage,  or  a  certain  sum  for  every  ton  of  oil  which  the 
cargo  produces.  Masters  and  harpooners  receive  a  small  surn 
before  sailing,  in  place  of  monthly  wages;  and  if  they  procure  no 
cargo  whatever,  they  receive  nothing  more  for  their  voyage;  but 
in  the  event  of  a  successful  fishing,  their  advantages  are  consid- 
erable. 

The  crow's  nest  is  an  apparatus  placed  on  the  main-top-mast,  or 


332  AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE-FISHERY. 

top-gallant-mast  head,  as  a  watch  tower  for  the  officer  on  the  look 
out.     It  is  closely  defended  from  the  wind  and  cold,  and  is  fur 
nished  with  a  speaking-trumpet,  a  telescope,  and  rifle.     The  mos 
favorable  opportunity  tor  prosecuting  the  fishery  in  the  GreenlaiK 
seas,  commonly  occurs  with  north,  north-west  or  west  winds.     A 
such  times  the  sea  is  smooth,  and  the  atmosphere,  though  cloudy 
and  dark,  is  generally  free  from  fog  and  snow.      The  fishers  pre 
fer  a  cloudy  to  a  clear  sky;   because  in  very  bright  weather,  the 
sea  becomes  illuminated,  and  the  shadows  of  the  whale-boats  are 
so  deeply  impressed  in  the  water  by  the  beams  of  the  sun  that  the 
whales  are  apt  to  take  the  alarm.     Fogs  are  only  so  far  unfavora 
ble  as  being  liable  to  endanger  the  boats  by  shutting  out  the  sigh 
of  the  ship.     A    well  constructed   whale-boat  floats  lightly    am 
safely  on  the  water, — is  capable  of  being  rowed  with  great  speed 
and  readily  turned  round, — it  is  of  such  capacity  that  it  canie 
six  or  seven  men,  seven  or  eight  hundred  weight  of  whale-lines 
and  various  other  materials,  and  yet  retains  the  necessary  prop 
erties  of  safety  and  speed.     Whale-boats    being    very  liable  to 
receive  damage,   both  from  whales  and   ice,   are  always  carver 
built, — a  structure  which  is  easily  repaired.     The  instruments  oJ 
general  use  in  the  capture  of  the  whale,  are  the  harpoon   anc 
lance.     There  is,  moreover,  a  kind  of  harpoon  which  is  shot  from 
a  gun,  but  being  difficult  to  adjust,  it  is  seldom  used.     Each  boa 
is  likewise  furnished  with  a  "jack  "or  flag  fastened  to  a  pole 
intended  to  be  displayed  as  a  signal  whenever  a  whale  is  harpoon 
ed.     The  crew  of  a  whale-ship  are  separated  into  divisions,  equa 
in  number  to  the  number  of  the  boats.     Each  division,  consisting 
of  a  harpooner,  a  boat-steerer,  and  a  line  manager,  together  wit! 
three  or  four  rowers,  constitutes  a  "  boat's  crew." 

On  fishing  stations,  when  the  weather  is  such  as  to  render  the 
fishery  practicable,  the  boats  are  always  ready  for  instant  service 
The  crow's  nest  is  generally  occupied  by  one  of  the  officers,  who 
keeps  an  anxious  watch  for  the  appearance  of  a  whale.  The  mo- 
ment that  a  fish  is  seen,  he  gives  notice  to  the  "  watch  upon  deck,' 
part  of  whom  leap  into  a  boat,  are  lowered  down,  and  push  off 
towards  the  place.  If  the  fish  be  large,  a  second  boat  is  despatch- 
ed to  the  support  of  the  other;  and  when  the  whole  of  the  boats 
are  sent  out,  the  ship  is  said  to  have  "  a  loose  fall."  There  are 
several  rules  observed  in  approaching  a  whale  to  prevent  the 
animal  from  taking  the  alarm.  As  the  whale  is  dull  of  hearing, 
but  quick  of  sight,  the  boat-steerer  always  endeavors  to  get  be- 
hind it;  and,  in  accomplishing  this,  he  is  sometimes  justified  in 
taking  a  circuitous  rout.  In  calm  weather,  where  guns  are  not 
used,  the  greatest  caution  is  necessary  before  a  whale  can  be 
reached;  smooth  careful  rowing  is  always  requisite,  and  sometimes 
sculling  is  practised.  It  is  a  primary  consideration  with  the  har- 
pooner, always  to  place  his  boat  as  near  as  possible  to  the  spot 
in  which  he  expects  the  fish  to  rise,  and  he  conceives  himself  sue- 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE-FISHERY.  333 

cess  Ail  in  the  attempt  when  the  fish  "  comes  up  within   a   stu.it,'' 
that  is,  witliin  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  yards. 

Whenever  a  whale  lies  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  uncf-ncious 
of  the  approach  of  its  enemies,  the  hardy  fisher  rows  cli/ectlv  u^jti 
it;  and  an  instant  hefore  the  boat  touches  it,  buries  his  harpoon 
in  its  back.  The  wounded  whale,  in  the  surprise  and  agony  of 
the  moment,  makes  a  convulsive  effort  to  escape.  Then  is  the 
moment  of  danger.  The  boat  is  subjected  to  the  most  violent 
blows  from  its  head,  or  its  fins,  but  particularly  from  its  ponderous 
tail,  which  sometimes  sweeps  the  air  with  such  tremendous  fury, 
that  both  boat  and  men  are  exposed  to  one  common  destruction. 

The  head  of  the  whale  is  avoided,  because  it  cannot  be  pene- 
trated with  the  harpoon;  but  any  part  of  the  body,  between  the 
head  and  the  tail,  will  admit  of  the  full  length  of  the  instrument,  with- 
out danger  of  obstruction.  The  moment  that  the  wounded  whale 
disappears,  a  flag  is  displayed;  on  sight  of  which,  those  on  watch 
in  the  ship,  give  the  alarm,  by  stamping  on  the  deck,,  accompani- 
ed by  shouts  of  "  a  fall. "  At  the  sound  of  this,  the  sleeping  crew 
are  roused,  jump  from  their  beds,  rush  upon  deck,  and  crowd 
into  the  boats.  The  alarm  of"  a  fall,"  has  a  singular  effect  on 
the  feelings  of  a  sleeping  person,  unaccustomed  to  hearing  it.  It 
has  often  been  mistaken  as  a  cry  of  distress.  A  landsman,  see- 
ing the  crew,  on  an  occasion  of  a  fall,  leap  into  the  boats  in  their 
shirts,  imagined  that  the  ship  was  sinking.  He  therefore  tried  to 
get  into  a  boat  himself,  but  every  one  of  them  being  fully  manned, 
he  was  refused.  After  several  fruitless  endeavors  to  gain  a  place 
among  his  comrades,  he  cried  out,  in  evident  distress,  "  What 
shall  1  do? — Will  none  of  you  take  me  in?" 

The  first  effort  of  a  "  fast-fish,"  or  whale  that  bas  been  struck, 
is  to  escape  from  the  boat  by  sinking  under  water.  After  this, 
it  pursues  its  course  directly  downward,  or  reappears  at  a  little 
distance,  and  swims  with  great  celerity,  near  the  surface  of  the 
water.  It  sometimes  returns  instantly  to  the  surface,  and  gives 
evidence  of  its  agony  by  the  most  convulsive  throes.  The  down- 
ward course  of  a  whale  is,  however,  the  most  common.  A  whale, 
struck  near  the  edge  of  any  large  sheet  of  ice,  and  passing  under- 
neath it,  will  sometimes  run  the  whole  of  the  lines  out  of  one  boat. 
The  approaching  distress  of  a  boat,  for  want  of  line,  is  indicated 
by  the  elevation  of  an  oar,  to  which  is  added  a  second,  a  thircl,  or 
even  a  fourth,  in  proportion  to  the  nature  of  the  exigence.  The  ut- 
most care  and  attention  are  requisite,  on  the  part  of  every  person 
in  the  boat,  when  the  lines  are  running  out;  fatal  consequences 
having  been  sometimes  produced  by  the  most  trifling  neglect. 
When  the  line  happens  to  "  run  foul,"  and  cannot  be  cleared  on 
the  instant,  it  sometimes  draws  the  boat  under  water;  on  which,  if 
no  auxiliary  boat,  or  convenient  piece  of  ice,  be  at  hand,  the  crew 
are  plunged  into  the  sea.  and  are  obliged  to  trust  to  their  oars  or 
their  skill  in  swimming,  for  supporting  themselves  on  the  surface 


334  AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE-FISHERY. 

Captain  Scoresby  relates  an  accident  of  this  kind,  which  hap- 
pened on  his  first  voyage  to  the  whale-fishery.  A  thousand  fath- 
oms of  line  were  already  out,  and  the  fast-boat  was  forcibly  pres- 
sed against  the  side  of  a  piece  of  ice.  Tjie  harpooner,  in  his  anx- 
iety to  retard  the  flight  of  the  whale,  applied  too  many  turns  of 
the  line  round  the  bollard,  which,  getting  entangled,  drew  the 
boat  beneath  the  ice.  Another  boat,  providentially  was  at  hand, 
into  which  the  crew  had  just  time  to  escape.  The  whale,  with 
near  two  miles'  length  of  line,  was,  in  consequence  of  the  acci- 
dent, lost,  but  the  boat  was  recovered. 

The  average  stay  under  water,  of  a  wounded  whale,  is  about 
thirty  minutes.  When  it  re-appears,  the  assisting  boats  make 
for  the  place  with  their  utmost  speed,  and  as  they  reach  it,  each 
harpooner  plunges  his  harpoon  into  its  back,  to  the  amount  of 
three,  four,  or  more,  according  to  the  size  of  the  whale.  It  is 
then  actively  plied  with  lances,  which  are  thrust  into  its  body, 
aiming  at  its  vitals.  The  sea  to  a  great  extent  around  is  dyed 
with  its  blood,  and  the  noise  made  by  its  tail  in  its  dying  struggle, 
may  be  heard  several  miles.  In  dying,  it  turns  on  its  back  or 
on  its  side;  which  circumstance  is  announced  by  the  capturers 
with  the  striking  of  their  flags,  accompanied  with  three  lively 
huzzas! 

Whales  are  sometimes  captured,  with  a  singfe  harpoon,  in  the 
space  of  fifteen  minutes.  Sometimes  they  resist  forty  or  fifty  hours, 
and  at  times  they  will  break  three  or  four  lines  at  once,  or  tear 
themselves  clear  off  the  harpoons,  by  the  violence  of  their  strug- 
gles. Generally  the  capture  of  a  whale  depends  on  the  activity 
of  the  harpooner,  the  state  of  the  wind  and  weather,  or  the  pecu- 
liar conduct  of  the  animal  itself.  Under  the  most  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, the  length  of  time  does  not  exceed  an  hour.  The 
general  average  may  be  stated  at  two  hours.  Instances  have  oc- 
cured  where  whales  have  been  taken  without  being  struck  at  all, 
simply  by  entangling  themselves  in  the  lines  that  had  been  used 
to  destroy  others,  and  struggling  till  they  were  drowned  or  died 
of  exhaustion. 

The  fishery  for  whales,  when  conducted  at  the  margin  of  those 
wonderful  sheets  of  ice,  called  fields,  is,  when  the  weather  is  fine, 
and  tfre  refuge  for  ships  secure,  the  most  agreeable  and  some- 
times the  most  productive  of  all  other  ways.  When  the  fish  can 
be  observed  "  blowing  "  in  any  of  the  holes  in  a  field,  the 
men  travel  over  the  ice  and  attack  it  with  lances,  to  turn  it 
back  As  connected  with  this  subject,  Captain  Scoresby  re- 
lates the  following  circumstance,  which  occurred  under  his  own 
observation. 

On  the  eighth  of  July  1813,  the  ship  Esk  lay  by  the  edge  of  a 
large  sheet  of  ice,  in  which  there  were  several  thin  parts,  and 
some  holes.  Here  a  whale  being  heard  blowing,  a  harpoon,  with 
a  line  fastened  to  it,  was  conveyed  across  the  ice,  from  a  boat  on 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE-FISHERY.  335 

guard,  and  the  harpooner  succeeded  in  striking  the  whale,  at  the 
distance  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  verge.  It  drag- 
ged on  ten  lines,  (2400  yards,)  and  was  supposed  to  be  seen 
blowing  in  different  holes  in  the  ice.  After  some  time  it  made  its 
appearance  on  the  exterior,  and  was  again  struck,  at  the  moment 
it  was  about  to  go  under  the  second  time.  About  an  hundred 
yards  from  the  edge,  it  broke  the  ice  where  it  was  a  foot  thick, 
with  its  head,  and  respired  through  the  opening.  It  then  pushed 
forward,  breaking  the  ice  as  it  advanced,  in  spite  of  the  lances 
constantly  directed  against  it.  At  last  it  reached  a  kind  of  basin 
in  the  field,  where  it  floated  on  the  surface  without  any  incum- 
brance  from  ice.  Its  back  being  fairly  exposed,  the  harpoon 
struck  from  the  boat  on  the  outside,  was  observed  to  be  so  slightly 
entangled,  that  it  was  ready  to  drop  out.  Some  of  the  officers 
lamented  this  circumstance,  and  wished  that  the  harpoon  might 
be  better  fast;  at  the  same  time  observing  that  if  it  should  slip  out, 
either  the  fish  would  be  lost,  or  they  would  be  under  the  necessity 
of  flinching  it  where  it  lay,  and  of  dragging  the  blubber  over  the 
ice  to  the  ship;  a  kind  and  degree  of  labor  every  one  was  anxious 
to  avoid.  No  sooner  was  the  wish  expressed,  and  its  importance 
explained,  than  a  young  and  daring  sailor  stepped  forward,  and 
offered  to  strike  the  harpoon  deeper.  Not  at  all  intimidated  by 
the  surprise  manifested  on  every  countenance  at  such  a  bold  pro- 
posal, he  leaped  on  the  back  of  the  living  whale,  and  cut  the  har- 
poon out  with  his  pocket  knife.  Stimulated  by  his  gallant  exam- 
ple, one  of  his  companions  proceeded  to  his  assistance.  While 
one  of  them  hauled  upon  the  line  and  held  it  in  his  hands,  the 
other  set  his  shoulder  against  the  end  of  the  harpoon,  and  though 
it  was  without  a  stock,  contrived  to  strike  it  again  into  the  fish 
more  effectually  than  at  first!  The  whale  was  in  motion  before 
they  had  finished.  After  they  got  off  its  back,  it  advanced  a  con- 
siderable distance,  breaking  the  ice  all  the  way,  and  survived  this 
novel  treatment  ten  or  fifteen  minutes.  This  daring  deed  was  of 
essential  service.  The  whale  fortunately  sunk  spontaneously 
after  it  expired;  on  which  it  was  hauled  out  under  the  ice  by  the 
line  and  secured  without  farther  trouble.  It  proved  a  mighty 
whale;  a  very  considerable  prize. 

When  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  a  large  whale,  it  is  a  necessary 
precaution  for  two  boats  at  all  times  to  proceed  in  company,  that 
the  one  may  be  able  to  assist  the  other,  on  any  emergency. 
With  this  principle  in  view,  two  boats  from  the  Esk  were  sent 
out  in  chase  of  some  large  whales,  on  the  13th  of  June  1814. 
No  ice  was  within  sight.  The  boats  had  proceeded  some  time 
together,  when  they  separated  in  pursuit  of  two  whales,  not  far 
distant  from  each  other;  when,  by  a  singular  coincidence,  the 
harpooners  each  struck  his  fish  at  the  same  moment.  They  were 
a  mile  from  the  ship.  Urgent  signals  for  assistance  were  display- 
ed by  each  boat,  and  in  a  few  minutes  one  of  the  harpooners  was 


336  AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY. 

obliged  to  slip  the  end  of  his  line.  Fortunately  the  other  fish  did 
not  descend  so  deep,  and  the  lines  in  the  boat  proved  adequate 
for  the  occasion.  One  of  the  fish  being  then  supposed  to  be  lost, 
five  of  the  boats  out,  of  seven  attended  on  the  fish  which  yet  re- 
mained entangled,  and  speedily  killed  it.  A  short  time  afterwards, 
the  other  fish  supposed  to  be  lost,  was  descried  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  place  where  it  was  struck; — three  boats  proceeded 
against  it; — it  was  immediately  struck,  and  in  twenty  minutes  also 
killed.  Thus  were  fortunately  captured  two  whales,  both  of  which 
had  been  despaired  of.  They  produced  near  forty  tons  of  oil, 
value,  at  that  time  1400/.  The  lines  attached  to  the  last  fish  were 
recovered  with  it. 

Before  a  whale  can  be  flensed,  as  the  operation  of  taking  off  the 
fat  and  whalebone  is  called,  some  preliminary  measures  are  requi- 
site. These  consist  in  securing  the  whale  to  a  boat,  cutting  away 
the  attached  whale-lines,  lashing  the  fins  together,  and  towing  it 
to  the  ship.  Some  curious  circumstances  connected  with  these 
operations,  may  be  mentioned  here. 

In  the  year  1816,  a  fish  was,  to  all  appearance  killed  by  the 
crew  of  the  Esk.  The  fins  were  partly  lashed,  and  the  tail  on  the 
point  of  being  secured,  and  all  the  lines  excepting  one,  were  cut 
away,  the  fish  meanwhile  lying  as  if  dead.  To  the  alarm,  how- 
ever, of  the  sailors,  it  revived,  began  to  move,  and  pressed  for- 
ward in  a  convulsive  agitation;  soon  after  it  sunk  in  the  water  to 
some  depth,  and  then  died.  One  line  fortunately  remained  attach- 
ed to  it,  by  which  it  was  drawn  to  the  surface  and  secured. 

A  suspension  of  labor  is  generally  allowed  after  the  whale  has 
been  secured  aside  of  the  ship,  and  before  the  commencement  of 
the  operation  of  flensing.  An  unlucky  circumstance  once  occurred 
in  an  interval  of  thi§  kind.  At  that  period  of  the  fishery,  (forty 
or  fifty  years  ago,)  when  a  single  stout  whale,  together  with  the 
bounty,  was  found  sufficient  to  remunerate  the  owners  of  a  ship 
for  the  expenses  of  the  voyage,  great  joy  was  exhibited  on  the 
capture  of  a  whale,  by  the  fishers.  They  were  not  only  cheered 
by  a  dram  of  spirits,  but  sometimes  provided  with  some  favorite 
"  mess,"  on  which  to  regale  themselves,  before  they  commenced 
the  arduous  task  of  flensing.  At  such  a  period,  the  crew  of  an 
English  vessel  had  captured  their  first  whale.  It  was  taken  to 
the  ship,  placed  on  the  lee-side,  and  though  the  wind  blew  a  strong 
breeze,  it  was  fastened  only  by  a  small  rope  attached  to  the  fin. 
In  this  state  of  supposed  security,  all  hands  retired  to  regale  them- 
selves, the  captain  himself  not  excepted.  The  ship  being  at  a 
distance  from  any  ice,  and  the  fish  believed  to  be  fast,  they  made 
no  great  haste  in  their  enjoyment.  At  length,  the  specksioneer, 
or  chief  harpooner,  having  spent  sufficient  time  in  indulgence  and 
equipment,  with  an  air  of  importance  and  self-confidence,  pro- 
ceeded on  deck,  and  naturally  turned  to  look  on  the  whale.  To 
his  astonishment  it  was  not  to  be  seen.  In  some  alarm  he  looked 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY.  337 

a-stern,  a-head,  on  the  other  side,  but  his  search  was  useless:  the 
ship  drifting  fast,  had  pressed  forcibly  upon  the  whale,  the  rope 
broke,  the  fish  sunk  and  was  lost.  The  mortification  of  this  event 
may  be  conceived,  but  the  termination  of  their  vexation  will  not 
easily  be  imagined,  when  it  is  known,  that  no  other  opportunity 
of  procuring  a  whale  occurred  during  the  voyage.  The  ship  re- 
turned home  clean. 

Flensing  in  a  swell  is  a  most  difficult  and  dangerous  undertak- 
ing: and  when  the  swell  is  at  all  considerable,  it  is  commonly  im- 
practicable. No  ropes  or  blocks  are  capable  of  bearing  the  jerk 
of  the  sea.  The  harpooners  are  annoyed  by  the  surge,  and  re- 
peatedly drenched  in  water;  and  are  likewise  subject  to  be  wound- 
ed by  the  breaking  of  ropes  or  hooks  of  tackles,  and  even  by 
strokes  from  each  other's  knives.  Hence  accidents  in  this  kind  of 
flensing  are  not  uncommon.  The  harpooners  not  unfrequently 
fall  into  the  whale's  mouth,  when  it  is  exposed  by  the  removal  of 
a  surface  of  blubber;  where  they  might  easily  be  drowned,  but 
for  the  prompt  assistance  which  is  always  at  hand. 

One  of  the  laws  of  the  fishery  universally  adhered  to,  is,  that 
whenever  a  whale  is  loose,  whatever  may  be  the  case  or  circum- 
stances, it  becomes  a  free  prize  to  the  first  person  who  gets  hold 
of  it.  Thus,  when  a  whale  is  killed,  and  the  flensing  is  prevent- 
ed by  a  storm,  it  is  usually  taken  in  tow;  if  the  rope  by  which  it 
is  connected  with  the  ship  should  happen  to  break,  and  th^  people 
of  another  ship  should  seize  upon  it  while  disengaged,  it  becomes 
their  prize.  The  following  circumstance,  which  occurred  a  good 
many  years  ago,  has  a  tendency  to  illustrate  the  existing  Green- 
land laws. 

During  a  storm  of  wind  and  snow  several  ships  were  beating 
to  windward,  under  easy  sail,  along  the  edge  of  a  pack.  When 
the  storm  abated  and  the  weather  cleared,  the  ships  steered  to- 
wards the  ice.  Two  of  the  fleet  approached  it,  about  a  mile  asun- 
der, abreast  of  each  other,  when  the  crews  of  each  ship  accident- 
ally got  sight  of  a  dead  fish  at  a  little  distance,  within  some  loose 
ice.  Each  ship  now  made  sail,  to  endeavor  to  reach  the  fish  be- 
fore the  other;  which  fish  being  loose,  would  be  a  prize  to  the  first 
who  could  get  possession  of  it.  Neither  ship  could  out  sail  the 
other,  but  each  contrived  to  press  forward  towards  the  prize.  The 
little  advantage  one  of  them  had  in  distance,  the  other  compensa- 
ted with  velocity.  On  each  bow  of  the  two  ships,  was  stationed  a 
principal  officer,  armed  with  a  harpoon  in  readiness  to  discharge. 
But  it  so  happened  that  the  ships  came  in  contact  with  each  other, 
when  within  a  few  yards  of  the  fish,  and  in  consequence  of  the 
shock  with  which  their  bows  met,  they  rebounded  to  a  considera- 
ble distance.  The  officers  at  the  same  moment  discharged  their 
harpoons,  but  all  of  them  fell  short  of  the  fish.  A  hardy  fellow 
who  was  second  mate  of  the  leeward  ship  immediately  leaped  over- 
board and  with  great  dexterity  swam  to  the  whale,  seized  it  by  the 

29 


338  AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY. 

fin,  and  proclaimed  it  his  prize.  It  was,  however,  so  swollen, 
that  he  was  unable  to  climb  upon  it,  but  was  obliged  to  remain 
shivering  in  the  water  until  assistance  should  be  sent.  His  cap- 
tain elated  with  his  good  luck,  forgot,  or  at  least  neglected  his 
brave  second  mate;  and  before  he  thought  of  sending  a  boat  to 
release  him  from  his  disagreeable  situation,  prepared  to  moor  his 
ship  to  an  adjoining  piece  of  ice.  Meanwhile  the  other  ship 
tacked,  and  the  master  himself  stepped  into  a  boat,  pushed  off 
and  rowed  deliberately  towards  the  dead  fish.  Observing  the 
trembling  seaman  still  in  the  water  holding  by  the  fin,  he  address- 
ed him  with,  "  Well  my  lad.  you  have  got  a  fine  fish  here," — to 
which  after  a  natural  reply  in  the  affirmative,  he  added,  "  but 
do'nt  you  find  it  very  cold?" — "Yes,"  replied  the  shivering 
sailor,  "I'm  almost  starved.  I  wish  you  would  allow  me  to  come 
into  your  boat  until  our's  arrive."  This  favor  needed  no  second 
solicitation;  the  boat  approached  the  man  and  he  was  assisted  into 
it.  The  fish  being  again  loose  and  out  of  possession,  the  captain 
instantly  struck  his  harpoon  into  it,  hoisted  his  flag,  and  claimed 
his  prize!  Mortified  and  displeased  as  the  other  master  felt  at 
this  trick,  for  so  it  certainly  was,  he  had  nevertheless  no  redress, 
but  was  obliged  to  permit  the  fish  to  be  taken  on  board  of  his 
competitor's  ship,  and  to  content  himself  with  abusing  the  second 
mate  for  want  of  discretion,  and  condemning  himself  for  not 
having  more  compassion  on  the  poor  fellow's  feeling,  which  would 
have  prevented  the  disagreeable  misadventure. 

Those  employed  in  the  occupation  of  killing  whales,  are,  when 
actually  engaged,  exposed  to  danger  from  three  sources,  viz.  from 
the  ice,  from  the  climate,  and  from  the  whales  themselves.  The 
ice  is  a  source  of  danger  to  the  fishers,  from  overhanging  masses 
falling  upon  them, — from  the  approximation  of  large  sheets  of  ice 
to  each  other,  which  are  apt  to  crush  or  upset  the  boats, — from 
their  boats  being  stove  and  sunk  by  large  masses  of  ice,  agitated 
by  a  swell, — and  from  the  boats  being  enclosed  and  beset  in  a 
pack  of  ice,  and  their  crews  thus  prevented  from  joining  their 
ship  A. 

On  the  commencement  of  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  May  llth, 
1813,  fourteen  men  put  off  in  a  boat  from  the  Volunteer  of  Wliit- 
by,  with  the  view  of  setting  an  anchor  in  a  large  piece  of  ice,  to 
•which  it  was  their  intention  of  mooring  the  ship.  The  ship 
approached  on  a  signal  being  made,  the  sails  were  clewed  up, 
and  a  rope  fixed  to  the  anchor;  but  the  ice  shivering  with  the  vio- 
lence of  the  strain  when  the  ship  fell  astern,  the  anchor  flew  out 
and  the  ship  went  adrift.  The  sails  being  again  set,  the  ship  was 
reached  to  the  eastward  (wind  at  north),  the  distance  of  about 
two  miles;  but  in  attempting  to  wear  and  return,  the  ship,  instead 
of  performing  the  evolution,  scudded  a  considerable  distance  to 
the  leeward,  and  was  then  reaching  out  to  sea;  thus  leaving  four- 
teen of  her  crew  to  a  fate  most  dreadful,  the  fulfilment  of  which 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY.  339 

seemed  almost  inevitable.  The  temperature  of  the  air  was  15° 
or  16°  of  Fahr.,  when  these  poor  wretches  were  left  upon  a  de- 
tached piece  of  ice,  of  no  considerable  magnitude,  without  food, 
without  shelter  from  the  inclement  storm,  deprived  of  every  means 
of  refuge  except  in  a  single  boat,  which,  on  account  of  the  num- 
ber of  men,  and  the  violence  of  the  storm,  was  incapable  of 
conveying  them  to  their  ship.  Death  stared  them  in  the  face 
whichever  way  they  turned,  and  a  division  in  opinion  ensued. 
Some  were  wishful  to  remain  on  the  ice,  but  the  ice  could  afford 
them  no  shelter  to  the  piercing  wind,  and  would  probably  be 
broken  to  pieces  by  the  increasing  swell:  others  were  anxious  to 
attempt  to  join  their  ship  while  she  was  yet  in  sight,  but  the 
force  of  the  wind,  the  violence  of  the  sea,  the  smallness  of  the 
boat  in  comparison  to  the  number  of  men  to  be  conveyed,  were 
objections  which  would  have  appeared  insurmountable  to  any 
person  but  men  in  a  state  of  despair.  Judging,  that  by  remaining 
on  the  ice,  death  was  but  retarded  for  a  few  hours,  as  the  extreme 
cold  must  eventually  benumb  their  faculties,  and  invite  a  sleep 
which  would  overcome  the  remains  of  animation, — they  determin- 
ed on  making  the  attempt  of  rowing  to  their  ship.  Poor  souls, 
what  must  have  been  their  sensations  at  that  moment, — when  the 
spark  of  hope  yet  remaining  was  so  feeble,  that  a  premature 
death  even  to  themselves  seemed  inevitable.  They  made  the 
daring  experiment,  when  a  few  minutes'  trial  convinced  them, 
that  the  attempt  was  utterly  impracticable.  They  then  with  long- 
ing eyes,  turned  their  efforts  towards  recovering  the  ice  they 
had  left,  but  their  utmost  exertions  were  unavailing.  Every  one 
now  viewed  his  situation  as  desperate;  and  anticipated,  as  certain, 
the  fatal  event  which  was  to  put  a  period  to  his  life.  How  great 
must  have  been  their  delight,  and  how  overpowering  their  sensa- 
tions, when  at  this  most  critical  juncture  a  ship  appeared  in  sight! 
She  was  advancing  directly  towards  them;  their  voices  were  ex- 
tended and  their  flag  displayed.  But  although  it  was  impossible 
they  should  be  heard,  it  was  not  impossible  they  should  be  seen. 
Their  flag  was  descried  by  the  people  on  board  the  ship,  their 
mutual  courses  were  so  directed  as  to  form  the  speediest  union, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  they  found  themselves  on  the  deck  of  the 
Lively  of  Whitby,  under  circumstances  of  safety!  They  receiv- 
ed from  their  townsmen  the  warmest  congratulations;  and  while 
each  individual  was  forward  in  contributing  his  assistance  towards 
the  restoration  of  their  benumbed  bodies,  each  appeared  sensible 
that  their  narrow  escape  from  death  was  highly  providential.  The 
forbearance  of  God  is  wonderful.  Perhaps.these  very  men  a  few 
hours  before,  were  impiously  invoking  their  own  destruction,  or 
venting  imprecations  upon  their  fellow  beings!  True  it  is  that 
the  goodness  of  the  Almighty  extendeth  over  all  his  works,  and 
that  while  'Mercy  is  his  darling  attribute,' — 'Judgment  is  his 
strange  work.' 


340  AN    ACCOUNT    OF   THE    WHALE    FISHERY. 

The  most  extensive  source  of  danger  to  the  whale-fisher,  when 
actively  engaged  in  his  occupation,  arises  from  the  object  of  his 
pursuit.  Excepting  when  it  has  young  under  its  protection,  the 
whale  generally  exhibits  remarkable  timidity  of  character.  A 
bird  perching  on  its  back  alarms  it;  hence,  the  greater  part  of 
the  accidents  which  happen*in  the  course  of  its  capture,  must  be 
attributed  to  adventitious  circumstances  on  the  part  of  the  whale, 
or  to  mismanagement  or  fool-hardiness  on  the  part  of  the  fishers. 

A  harpooner  belonging  to  the  Henrietta  of  Whitby,  when  en- 
gaged in  lancing  a  whale,  into  which  he  had  previously  struck  a 
harpoon,  incautiously  cast  a  little  line  under  his  feet  that  he  had 
just  hauled  into  the  boat,  after  it  had  been  drawn  out  by  the  fish. 
A  painful  stroke  of  his  lance  induced  the  whale  to  dart  suddenly 
downward;  his  line  began  to  run  out  from  beneath  his  feet,  and 
in  aji  instant  caught  him  by  a  turn  round  his  body.  He  had  but 
just  time  to  cry  out,  "  Clear  away  the  line," — "  O  dear!"  when 
he  was  almost  cut  asunder,  dragged  overboard,  and  never  seen 
afterwards.  The  line  was  cut  at  the  moment,  but  without  avail. 
The  fish  descended  a  considerable  depth,  and  died;  from  whence 
it  was  drawn  to  the  surface  by  the  lines  connected  with  it,  and 
secured. 

While  the  ship  Resolution  navigated  an  open  lake  of  water,  in 
the  81st  degree  of  north  latitude,  during  a  keen  frost  and  strong 
north  wind,  on  the  2d  of  June  1806,  a  whale  appeared,  and  a  boat 
put  off  in  pursuit.  On  its  second  visit  to  the  surface  of  the  sea,  it 
was  harpooned.  A  convulsive  heave  of  the  tail,  which  succeeded 
the  wound,  struck  the  boat  at  the  stern;  and  by  its  reaction,  pro- 
jected the  boat-steerer  overboard.  As  the  line  in  a  moment 
dragged  the  boat  beyond  his  reach,  the  crew  threw  some  of  their 
oars  towards  him  for  his  support,  one  of  which  he  fortunately 
seized.  The  ship  and  boats  being  at  a  considerable  distance,  and 
the  fast-boat  being  rapidly  drawn  away  from  him,  the  harpooner 
cut  the  line,  with  the  view  of  rescuing  him  from  his  dangerous 
situation.  But  no  sooner  was  this  act  performed,  than  to  their 
extreme  mortification  they  discovered,  that  in  consequence  of 
some  oars  being  thrown  towards  their  floating  comrade,  and 
others  being  broken  or  unshipped  by  the  blow  from  the  fish,  one 
oar  only  remained;  with  which,  owing  to  the  force  of  the  wind, 
they  tried  in  vain  to  approach  him.  A  considerable  period 
elapsed,  before  Uny  boat  from  the  ship  could  afford  him  assistance, 
though  the  men  strained  every  nerve  for  the  purpose.  At  length, 
when  they  reached  him,  he  was  found  with  his  arms  stretched 
over  an  oar,  almost  deprived  of  sensation.  On  his  arrival  at  the 
ship,  he  was  in  a  deplorable  condition.  His  clothes  were  frozen 
like  mail,  and  his  hair  constituted  a  helmet  of  ice.  He  was  im- 
mediately conveyed  into  the  cabin,  his  clothes  taken  off,  his  limbs 
and  body  dried  and  well  rubbed,  and  a  cordial  administered  to  him 
which  he  drank.  A  dry  shirt  and  stockings  were  then  put  upon 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY.  341 

him,  and  he  was  laid  in  the  captain's  bed.  After  a  few  hours, 
sleep  he  a\voke,  and  appeared  considerably  restored,  but  com- 
plained of  a  painful  sensation  of  cold.  He  was,  therefore,  re- 
moved to  his  own  birth,  and  one  of  his  messmates  ordered  to  lie 
on  each  side  of  him,  whereby  the  diminished  circulation  of  the 
blood  was  accelerated,  and  the  animal  heat  restored.  The  shock 
on  his  constitution,  however,  was  greater  than  was  anticipated. 
He  recovered  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  so  as  to  be  able  to  en- 
gage in  his  ordinary  pursuits;  but  many  months  elapsed,  before 
his  countenance  exhibited  its  wonted  appearance  of  health. 

The  Aimwell  of  Whitby,  while  cruising  the  Greenland  seas, 
in  the  year  1810,  had  boats  in  chase  of  whales  on  the  26th  of 
May.  One  of  them  was  harpooned.  But  instead  of  sinking 
immediately  on  receiving  the  wound,  as  is  the  most  usual  manner 
of  the  whale,  this  individual  only  dived  for  a  moment,  and  rose 
again  beneath  the  boat,  struck  it  in  the  most  vicious  manner  with 
its  fins  and  tail,  stove  it,  upset  it,  and  then  disappeared.  The 
crew,  seven  in  number,  got  on  tfye  bottom  of  the  boat;  but  the 
unequal  action  of  the  lines,  which  for  some  time  remained  entan- 
gled with  the  boat,  rolled  it  occasionally  over,  and  thus  plunged 
the  crew  repeatedly  into  the  water.  Four  of  them,  after  each 
immersion,  recovered  themselves  and  clung  to  the  boat;  but  the 
other  three,  one  of  whom  was  the  only  person  acquainted  with 
the  art  of  swimming,  were  drowned  before  assistance  could  ar- 
rive. The  four  men  on  the  boat  being  rescued  and  conveyed  to 
the  ship,  the  attack  on  the  whale  was  continued,  and  two  more 
harpoons  struck.  But  the  whale  irritated,  instead  of  being  ener- 
vated by  its  wounds,  recommenced  its  furious  conduct.  The  sea 
was  in  a  foam.  Its  tail  and  fins  were  in  awful  play;  and  in  a 
short  time,  harpoon  after  harpoon  drew  out,  the  fish  was  loosened 
from  its  entanglements  and  escaped. 

In  the  fishery  of  1812,  the  Henrietta  of  Whitby  suffered  a 
similar  loss.  A  fish  which  was  struck  very  near  the  ship,  by  a 
blow  of  its  tail,  stove  a  small  hole  in  the  boat's  bow.  Every  in- 
dividual shrinking  from  the  side  on  which  the  blow  was  impressed, 
aided  the  influence  of  the  stroke,  and  upset  the  boat.  They  all 
clung  to  it  while  it  was  bottom  up;  but  the  line  having  got  entan- 
gled among  the  thwarts,  suddenly  drew  the  boat  under  water,  and 
with  it  part  of  the  crew.  Excessive  anxiety  among  the  p£ople  in 
the  ship,  occasioned  delay  in  sending  assistance;  so  that  when 
the  first  boat  arrived  at  the  spot,  two  survivors  only  out  of  six 
men  were  found. 

During  a  fresh  gale  of  wind  in  the  season  of  1809,  one  of  the 
Resolution's  harpooners  struck  a  sucking  whale.  Its  mother  be- 
ing near,  all  the  other  boats  were  disposed  around,  with  the^hope 
of  entangling  it.  The  old  whale  pursued  a  circular  route  round 
its  cub,  and  was  followed  by  the  boats;  but  its  velocity  was  so 
considerable,  that  they  were  unable  to  keep  pace  with  it.  Being 

29  * 


34:2  AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY. 

in  the  capacity  of  harpooner  on  this  occasion  myself,  I  proceeded 
to  the  chase,  after  having  carefully  marked  the  proceedings  of 
the  fish.  I  selected  a  situation,  in  which  I  conceived  the  whale 
would  make  its  appearance,  and  was  in  the  act  of  directing  my 
crew  to  cease  rowing,  when  a  terrible  blow  was  struck  on  the- 
boat.  The  whale  I  never  saw,  but  the  effect  of  the  blow  was  too 
important  to  be  overlooked.  About  fifteen  square  feet  of  the  bot- 
tom of  the  boat  were  driven  in;  it  filled,  sunk,  and^ upset  in  a 
moment.  Assistance  was  providentially  at  hand,  so  that  we  were 
all  taken  up  without  injury,  after  being  but  a  few  minutes  in  the 
water.  The  whale  escaped;  the  boat's  lines  fell  out  and  were- 
lost,  but  the  boat  was  recovered. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  the  power  which  the  whale  possesses 
in  its  tail,  was  exhibited  within  my  own  observation,  in  the  yean- 
1807.  On  the  29th  of  May,  a  whale  was  harpooned  by  an  officer: 
belonging  to  the  Resolution.  It  descended  a  considerable  depth; 
and,  on  its  re-appearance,  evinced  an  uncommon  degree  of  irrita- 
tion! It  made  such  a  display  of  its,  fins  and  tail,  that  few  of  the 
crew  were  hardy  enough  to  approach  it.  The  captain,  (Captain 
Scoresby's  father,)  observing  their  timidity,  called  a  boat,  and 
himself  struck  a  second  harpoon.  Another  boat  immediately 
followed,  and  unfortunately  advance.d  too  far.  The  tail  was  again 
reared  into  the  air,  in  a  terrific  attitude, — the  impending  blow  was 
evident, — the  harpooner,  who  was  directly  underneath,  leaped 
overboard, — and  the  next  moment  the  threatened  stroke  was  im- 
pressed on  the  centre  of  the  boat,  which  it  buried  in  the  water. 
Happily  no  one  was  injured.  The  harpooner  who  leaped  over- 
board, escaped  certain  death  by  the  act, — the  tail  having  struck 
the  very  spot  on  which  he  stood.  The  effects  of  the  blow  were 
astonishing.  The  keel  was  broken, — the  gunwales,  and  every 
plank,  excepting  two,  were  ^ut  uuuugu, — and  it. was  evident  that 
the  boat  would  ha^e  hppn  nompl^tely  divided,  had  not  the  tail 
struck  directly  upon  a  coil  oil"  lines.  The  boat  was  rendered 
useless. 

Instances  of  disasters  of  this  kind,  occasioned  by  blows  from 
the  whale,  could  be  adduced  in  great  numbers, — cases  of  boats 
being  destroyed  by  a  single  stroke  of  the  tail,  are  not  unknown, 
— instances  of  boats  having  been  stove  or  upset,  and  their  crews 
wholly  or  in  part  drowned,  are  not  unfrequent, — and  several 
cases  of  whales  having  made  a  regular  attack  upon  every  boat 
which  came  near  them,  dashed  some  in  pieces,  and  killed  or 
drowned  some  of  the  people  in  them,  have  occurred  within  a  few 
years,  even  under  my  own  observation. 

T4|e  Dutch  ship  Gort-Moolen,  commanded  by  Cornelius  Gerard 
Ouwekaas,  with  a  cargo  of  seven  fish,  was  anchored  in  Greenland 
in  the  year  1660.  The  captain,  perceiving  a  whale  a-head  of 
his  ship,  beckoned  his  attendants,  and  threw  himself  into  a  boat. 
He  was  the  first  to  approach  the  whale;  and  was  fortunate 


AN    ACCOUNT    OP    THE    WHALE    FISHERY.  343 

enough  to  harpoon  it  before  the  arrival  of  the  second  boat  which 
was  on  the  advance.  Jacques  Vienkes,  who  had  the  direction  of 
it,  joined  his  captain  immediately  afterwards,  and  prepared  to 
make  a  second  attack  on  the  fish,  when  it  should  remount  again 
to  the  surface.  At  the  moment  of  its  ascension,  the  boat  of 
Vienkes  happening  unfortunately  to  be  perpendicularly  above  it, 
was  so  suddenly  and  forcibly  lifted  up  by  a  stroke  of  the  head  of 
the  whale,  that  it  was  dashed  to  pieces  before  the  harpooner  could 
discharge  his  weapon.  Vienkes  flew  along  with  the  pieces  of  the 
boat,  and  fell  upon  the  back  of  the  animal.  This  intrepid  sea- 
man, who  still  retained  his  weapon  in  his  grasp,  harpooned  the 
whale  on  which  he  stood;  and,  by  means  of  the  harpoon  and  the 
line,  which  he  never  abandoned,  he  steadied  himself  firmly  upon 
the  fish,  notwithstanding  his  hazardous  situation,  and  regardless 
of  a  considerable  wound  that  he  received  in  his  leg,  in  his  fall 
along  with  the  fragments  of  the  boat.  All  the  efforts  of  the  other 
boats  to  approach  the  whale,  and  deliver  the  harpooner,  were 
futile.  The  captain,  not  seeing  any  other  method  of  saving  his 
unfortunate  companion,  who  was  in  some  way  entangled  with  the 
line,  called  to  him  to  cut  it  with  his  knife,  and  betake  himself  to 
swimming.  Vienkes,  embarrassed  and  disconcerted  as  he  was, 
tried  in  vain  to  follow  this  cdftnsel.  His  knife  was  in  the  pocket 
of  his  drawers;  and,  being  unable  to  support  himself  with  one 
hand,  he  could  not  get  it  out.  The  whale,  meanwhile,  contin- 
ued advancing  along  the  surface  of  the  water  with  great  rapidity, 
but  fortunately  never  attempted  to  dive.  While  his  comrades 
despaired  of  his  life,  the  harpoon  by  which  he  held,  at  length  dis- 
engaged itself  from  the  body  of  the  whale.  Vienkes  being  thus 
liberated,  did  not  fail  to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance;  he 
cast  himself  into  the  sea,  and,  by  swimming,  endeavored  to  regain 
the  boats  which  continued  the  pursuit  of  the  whale.  When ''his 
shipmates  perceived  him  struggling  with  the  waves,  they  redoubled 
their  exertions.  They  reached  him  just  as  his  strength  was  ex- 
hausted, and  had  the  happiness  of  rescuing  this  adventurous  har- 

i  pooner  from  his  perilous  situation. 

Captain  Lyons  G.f  the  Raith  of  Leith,  while  prosecuting  the 
whale-fishery  on  the  Labrador  coast,  in  the  season  of  1802,  dis- 
covered a  large  whale  at  a  short  distance  from  the  ship.  Four 
boats  were  despatched  in  pursuit,  and  two  of  them  succeeded  in 
approaching  it  so  closely  together,  that  two  harpoons  were  struck 
at  the  same  moment.  The  fish  descended  a  few  fathoms  in  the 

>  direction  of  another  of  the  boats,  which  was  on  the  advance,  rose 
accidentally  beneath  it,  struck  it  with  its  head,  and  threw  the  boat, 
men,  and  apparatus,  about  fifteen  feet  into  the  air.  It  was  invert- 
ed by  the  stroke,  and  fell  into  the  water  with  its  keel  upwards. 
All  the  people  were  picked  up  alive  by  the  fourth  boat,  which 
was  just  at  hand,  excepting  one  man,  who  having  got  entangled 
in  the  boat,  fell  beneath  it,  and  was  unfortunately  drowned.  The 


344 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY. 


fish  was    soon   afterwards    killed.      The    following   engraving  is 
illustrative  of  this  remarkable  accident. 


Perhaps  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  a  vessel  by  a  whale,  is  that^f  the  ship  Essex,  which  sailed 
from  Nantucket  about  the  year  1820.  She  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Pollard,  and  had  entered  the  Pacific  Ocean,  where  she 
was  employed  some  time  in  catching  whales.  One  day  the  sea- 
men harpooned  a  young  whale.  In  this  species  the  affection  o£ 
the  mother  towards  its  young,  is  very  strong;  as  was  evinced  in  a 
remarkable  manner  on  this  occasion.  When  the'  mother  of  the 
young  whale  found  that  her  progeny  was  killed,  she  went  to  some 
distance  from  the  ship,  and  then,  rushing  through  the  water,  came 
against  the  stern  of  the  vessel  with  the  greatest  violence.  So 
tremendous  was  the  force  of  the  shock,  that  several  of  the  timbers 
were  loosened,  and  the  vessel  pitched  and  reeled  on  the  water,  asv 
if  struck  by  a  whirlwind.  Nor  was  the  whale  satisfied  with  this. 
Again  she  went  to  the  distance  of  more  than  a  mile,  and  then, 
shooting  through  the  waves  with  incredible  swiftness,  came  like  a 
thunderbolt  upon  the  bow  of  the  vessel.  The  timbers  were  in- 
stantly beaten  in,  and  the  ship  began  to  fill  with  water.  Scarcely 
had  the  crew  sufficient  time  to  get  into  their  boat,  before  she  went 
down.  In  this  sudden  and  frightful  situation,  the  poor  seamen 
now  found  themselves.  They  were  upon  the  wide-heaving  and 
perilous  ocean  in  an  open  boat,  and  far  from  any  land.  If  the 
whale  had  come  upon  them  in  the  condition  they  were  now  in, 
they  must  have  inevitably  perished.  But  they  saw  no  more  of  the 


AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE    WHALE    FISHERY.  345 

monster.  Captain  Pollard  and  his  men  for  several  days  suffered 
severe  hardships  from  the  weather,  and  from  a  want  of  water  and 
food.  At  length  the  delightful  vision  of  another  ship  broke  upon 
their  sight.  They  were  all  taken  on  board,  and  finally  reached 
their  native  country  in  safety. 

In  1822,  two  boats  belonging  to  the  ship  Baffin  went  in  pursuit 
of  a  whale.  John  Carr  was  harpooner  and  commander  of  one  of 
them.  The  whale  they  pursued  led  them  into  a  vast  shoal  of  his 
own  species;  they  were  so  numerous  that  their  blowing  was  in- 
cessant, and  they  believed  that  they  did  not  see  fewer  than  an 
hundred.  Fearful  of  alarming  them  without  striking  any,  they 
remained  for  a  while  motionless.  At  last,  one  rose  near  Carr's 
boat,  and  he  approached,  and  fatally  for  himself,  harpooned  it. 
When  he  struck,  the  fish  was  approaching  the  boat;  and,  passing 
very  rapidly,  jerked  the  line  out  of  its  place  over  the^tern,  and 
threw  it  upon  the  gunwale.  Its  pressure  in  this  unfavorable 
position  so  careened  the  boat,  that  the  side  was  pulled  under 
water,  and  it  began  to  fill.  In  this  emergency,  Carr,  who  was  a 
brave,  active  man,  seized  the  line,  and  endeavored  to  relieve  the 
boat  by  restoring  it  to  its  place;  but,  by  some  circumstance  which 
was  never  accounted  for,  a  turn  of  the  line  flew  over  his  arm, 
dragged  him  overboard  in  an  instant,  and  drew  him  under  the 
water,  never  more  to  rise.  So  sudden  was  the  accident,  that  only 
one  man,  who  was  watching  him,  saw  what  had  happened;  so  that 
when  the  froat  righted,  which  it  immediately  did,  though  half  full 
of  water,  the  whole  crew  on  looking  round  inquired  what  had 
become  of  Carr.  It  is  impossible  to  imagine  a  death  more  awful- 
ly sudden  and  unexpected.  The  invisible  bullet  could  not  have 
effected  more  instantaneous  destruction.  The  velocity  of  the 
whale  at  its  first  descent  is  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  feet  per  sec- 
ond. Now  as  this  unfortunate  man  was  adjusting  the  line  at  the 
water's  very  edge,  where  it  must  have  been  perfectly  tight,  owing 
to  its  obstruction  in  running  out  of  the  boat,  the  interval  between 
the  fastening  the  line  about  him  and  his  disappearance  could  not 
have  exceeded  the  third  part  of  a  second  of  time,  for  in  one  sec- 
ond only  he  must  have  been  dragged  ten  or  twelve  feet  deep. 
Indeed  he  had  not  time  for  the  least  exclamation;  and  the  person 
who  saw  his  removal,  observed  that  it  was  so  exceeding  quick, 
that  though  his  eye  was  upon  him  at  the  moment,  he  could 
scarcely  distinguish  his  figure  as  he  disappeared. 

As  soon  as  the  crew  recovered  from  their  consternation,  they 
applied  themselves  to  the  needful  attention  which  the  lines  re- 
quired. A  second  harpoon  was  struck  from  the  accompanying" 
boat  on  the  raising  of  the  whale  to  the  surface,  and  some  lances 
were  applied,  but  this  melancholy"  occurrence  had  cast  such  a 
damp  on  all  present,  that  they  became  timid  and  inactive  in  their 
subsequent  duties.  The  whale  when  nearly  exhausted  was  allow- 
ed to  remain  some  minutes  unmolested,  till  having  recovered  some 


346  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  PEGGY. 

degree  of  energy,  it  made  a  violent  effort  and  tore  itself  away 
from  both  harpoons.  The  exertions  of  the  crews  thus  proved 
fruitless,  and  were  attended  with  serious  loss. 

Innumerable  instances  might  be  adduced  of  the  perils  and  dis- 
asters to  which  our  whalemen  are  subject;  of  their  never  tiring 
fortitude  and  daring  enterprise;  but  we  believe  the  examples  we 
have  given  alone  will  sufficiently  convey  a  full  and  correct  idea 
of  the  customs  and  dangers  of  the  whale-fishery. 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PEGGY. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  1785,  the  Peggy,  commanded  by 
Captain  Knight,  sailed  from  the  harbor  of  Waterford,  Ireland, 
for  the  port  of  New  York,  in  America. 

Here  it  is  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  Peggy  was  a  large 
unwieldy  Dutch-built  ship,  about  eight  hundred  tons  burden,  and 
had  formerly  been  in  the  Norway,  and  timber  trade,  for  which, 
indeed,  she  seemed,  from  her  immense  bulk,  well  calculated'. 
There  being  no  freight  in  readiness  for  America,  we  were  under 
the  necessity  of  taking  in  ballast:  which  consisted  of  coarse  gravel 
and  sand,  with  about  fifty  casks  of  stores,  fresh  stock,  and  vege- 
tables, sufficient  to  last  during  the  voyage;  having  plenty  of  room, 
a:id  having  been  most  abundantly  supplied  by  the  hospitable 
neighbourhood,  of  which  we  were  about  to  take  our  leave. 

We  weighed  anchor,  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  rapid  tide  and 
pleasant  breeze,  soon  gained  a  tolerable  offing:  we  continued 
under  easy  sail  the  remaining  part  of  the  day,  and  towards  sun- 
set lost  sight  of  land. 

Sept.  29th,  made  the  old  head  of  Kingsale;  the  weather  con- 
tinuing favorable,  we  shortly  came  within  sight  of  Cape  Clear, 
from  whence  we  took  our  departure  from  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

Nothing  material  occurred  for  several  days,  during  which  time 
we  traversed  a  vast  space  of  the  Western  Ocean. 

Oct.  12th,  the  weather  now  became  hazy  and  squally; — all 
hands  turned  up  to  reef  top-sails,  and  strike  top-gallant-yards. — 
Towards  night  the  squalls  were  more  frequent,  indicating  an  ap- 
proaching gale: — We  accordingly  clued,  reefed  top-sails,  and 
struck  top-gallant-masts;  and  having  made  all  snug  aloft,  the  ship 
weathered  the  night  very  steadily. 

On  the  13th  the  crew  were  imployed  in  setting  up  the  rigging, 
and  occasionally  pumping,  the  ship  having  made  much  water 
during  the  night.  The  gale  increasing  as  the  day  advanced, 
occasioned  the  vessel  to  make  heavy  rolls,  by  which  an  accident 
happened,  which  was  near  doing  much  injury  to  the  captain's 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE  PEGGY.  347 

cabin.  A  puncheon  of  rum,  which  was  lashed  on  the  larboard 
side  of  the  cabin,  broke  loose,  a  sudden  jerk  having  drawn  asunder 
the  cleets  to  which  it  was  fastened.  By  its  velocity  it  stove  in 
the  state  rooms,  and  broke  several  utensils  of  the  cabin  furniture. 
The  writer  of  this,  with  much  difficulty,  escaped  with  whole  limbs: 
but  not  altogether  unhurt,  receiving  a  painful  bruise  on  the  right 
foot:  having,  however,  escaped  from  the  cabin,  the  people  on  deck 
were  given  to  understand  that  the  rum  was  broke  loose.  The 
word  rum  soon  attracted  the  sailors'  attention,  and  this  cask  being 
the  ship's  only  stock,  they  were  not  tardy  (as  may  be  supposed") 
in  rendering  their  assistance  to  double  lash,  what  they  anticipated 
— the  delight,  of  frequently  splicing  the  main-brace  therewith  dur- 
ing their  voyage. 

On  the  14th  the  weather  became  moderate,  and  the  crew  were 
employed  in  making  good  the  stowage  of  the  stores  in  the  hold, 
which  had  given  way  during  the  night; — shaking  reefs  out  of  the 
top-sails,  getting  up  top-gallant-masts  and  yards,  and  rigging  out 
studding-sails.  All  hands  being  now  called  to  dinner,  a  bustle 
and  confused  noise  took  place  on  deck.  The  captain  (who  was 
below)  sent  the  writer  of  this  to  discover*  the  cause  thereof,  but 
before  he  could  explain,  a  voice  was  crying  out  in  a  most  piteous 
and  vociferous  tone.  The  captain  and  chief  mate  jumped  on  deck, 
and  found  the  crew  had  got  the  cook  laid  on  the  windlass,  and 
were  giving  him  a  most  severe  cobbing  with  a  flat  piece  of  his 
own  fire  wood.  As  soon  as  the  captain  had  reached  forward,  he 
was  much  exasperated  with  them  for  their  precipitate  conduct,  in 
punishing  without  his  knowledge  and  permission,  and  having 
prohibited  such  proceedings  in  future  cases;  he  inquired  the  cause 
of  their  grievance.  The  cook,  it  seems,  having  been  served  out 
fresh  water  to  dress  vegetables  for  all  hands,  had  inadvertently 
used  it  for  some  other  purpose,  and  boiled  the  greens  in  a  copper 
of  salt  water,  which  rendered  them  so  intolerably  tough,  that  they 
were  not  fit  for  use;  consequently  the  sailors  had  not  their  ex- 
pected garnish,  and  a  general  murmur  taking  place,  the  above 
punishment  was  inflicted. 

A  steady  breeze  ensuing,  all  sails  filled,  and  the  ship  made 
way,  with  a  lofty  and  majestic  air;  and  at  every  plunge  of  her 
bows,  which  were  truly  Dutch-built,  rose  a  foam  of  no  small  ap- 
pearance. 

During  four  days  the  weather  continued  favorable,  which  flat- 
tered the  seamen  with  a  speedy  sight  of  land. 

On  the  19th  we  encountered  a  very  violent  gale,  with  an  unusual 
heavy  sea: — The  ship  worked  greatly,  and  took  in  much  water 
through  her  seams; — the  pumps  were  kept  frequently  going.  At 
mid-day,  while  the  crew  were  at  dinner,  a  tremendous  sea  struck 
the  ship  right  aft,  which  tore  in  the  cabin  windows,  upset  the 
whole  of  the  dinner,  and  nearly  drowned  the  captain,  mate,  and 
myself,  who  was  at  that  time  holding  a  dish  on  the  table,  while 


348          9        THE  LOSS  OF  THE  PEGGY. 

the  captain  was  busily  employed  in  carving  a  fine  goose,  which, 
much  to  our  discomfiture,  was  entirely  drenched  by  the  salt-water. 
Some  of  the  coops  were,  washed  from  the  quarter-deck,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  poultry  destroyed. 

In  consequence  of  the  vessel  shipping  so  great  a  quantity  of 
water,  the  pumps  were  doubly  manned,  and  soon  gained  on  her. 
The  gale  had  not  in  the  least  abated  during  the  night.  The  well 
was  plumined,  and  there  was  found  to  be  a  sudden  and  alarming 
increase  of  water.  The  carpenter  was  immediately  ordered  to 
examine  the  ship  below,  in  order  to  find  the  cause  of  the  vessel's 
making  so  much  water.  His  report  was,  she  being  a  very  old 
vessel,  her  seams  had  considerably  opened  by  her  laboring  so 
much,  therefore,  could  devise  no  means  at  present  to  prevent  the 
evil.  He  also  reported,  the  mizen-mast  to  be  in  great  danger. 

The  heel  of  the  mizen-mast  being  stepped  between  decks  (a 
very  unusual  case,  but  probably  it  was  placed  there  in  order  to 
make  more  Foom  for  stowage  in  the  after-hold)  was  likely  to  work 
from  its  step,  and  thereby  might  do  considerable  damage  to  the 
ship. 

The  captain  now  held  a  consultation  with  the  officers,  when  it 
was  deemed  expedient  to  cut  the  mast  away  without  delay-:  this 
was  accordingly  put  into  execution  the  following  morning,  as  soon 
as  the  day,  made  its  appearance.  The  necessary  preparations 
having  been  matle,  the  carpenter  began  hewing  at  the  mast,  and 
quickly  made  a  deep  wound.  Some  of  the  crew  were  stationed 
ready  to  cut  away  the  stays  and  lanyards,  whilst  the  remaining 
part  was  anxiously  watching  the  momentary  crash  which  was  to 
ensue;  the  word  being  given  to  cut  away  the  weather-lanyards, 
as  the  ship  gave  a  lee-lurch,  the  whole  of  the  wreck  plunged, 
without  further  injury,  into  the  ocean. 

The  weather  still  threatening  a  continuance,  our  principal  em- 
ploy was  at  the  pumps,  which  were  kept  continually  going.  The 
sea  had  now  rose  to  an  alarming  height,  and  frequently  struck 
the  vessel  with  great  violence.  Towards  the  afternoon  part  of 
the  starboard  bulwark  was  carried  away  by  the  shock  of  a  heavy 
sea,  which  made  the  ship  broach-to,  and  before  she  could  answer 
her  helm  again,  a  sea  broke  through  the  fore-chains,  and  swept 
away  the  caboose  and  all  its  utensils  from  the  deck;  fortunately 
for  the  cook  he  was  assisting  at  the  pumps  at  the  time,  or  he  inevi- 
tably must  have  shared  the  same  fate  as  his  galley. 

Notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  the  crew,  the  water  gained 
fast,  and  made  its  way  into  the  hold,  which  washed  a  great  quan- 
tity of  the  ballast  through  the  timber-holes  into  the  hull,  by  which 
the  suckers  of  the  pumps  were  much  damaged,  and  thereby  fre- 
quentlv  choaked.  I3y  such  delays  the  leaks  increased  rapidly. 
We  were  under  the  necessity  of  repeatedly  hoisting  the  pumps 
on  deck,  to  apply  different  means  which  were  devised  to  keep  the 
sand  from  entering,  but  all  our  efforts  proved  ineffectual,  and  the 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PEGGY.  349 

pumps  were  deemed  of  no  further  utility.  There  was  now  no 
time  to  be  lost;  accordingly  it  was  agreed  that  the  allowance  of 
fresh  water  should  be  lessened  to  a  pint  a  man;  the  casks  were 
immediately  hoisted  from  the  hold,  and  lashed  between  decks.  As 
the  water  was  started  from  two  of  them,  they  were  sawed  in  twoj 
and  formed  into  buckets,  there  being  no  other  casks  on  board  fit 
for  that  purpose;  the  whips  were  soon  applied,  and  the  hands 
began  baling  at  the  fore  and  after  hatchways  which  continued 
without  intermission  the  whole  of  the  night,  each  man  being  suf- 
fered to  take  one  hour's  rest,  in  rotation. 

The  morning  of  the  22d  presented  to  our  view  a  most  dreary 
aspect, — a  dismal  horizon  encircling — not  the  least  appearance 
of  the  gale  abating — on  the  contrary,  it  seemed  to  come  with  re- 
doubled vigor — the  ballast  washing  from  side  to  side  of  the  ship 
at  each  roll,  and  scarce  a  prospect  of  freeing  her.  Notwithstanding 
these  calamities,  the  crew  did  not  relax  their  efforts.  The  main 
hatchway  was  opened  and  fresh  buckets  went  to  work;  the  captain 
and  mate  alternately  relieving  each  other  at  the  helm.  The 
writer's  station  was  to  supply  the  crew  with  grog,  which  was 
plentifully  served  to  them  every  two  hours.  By  the  motion  of 
the  ship  the  buckets  struck  against  the  combings  of  the  hatch- 
ways with  great  violence,  and  in  casting  them  in  the  hold  to  fill, 
they  frequently  struck  on  the  floating  pieces  of  timber  which  were 
generally  used  as  chocks  in  stowing  the  hold.  By  such  accidents 
the  buckets  were  repeatedly  stove,  and  we  were  under  the  neces- 
sity of  cutting  more  of  the  water  casks  to  supply  their  place. 
Starting  the  fresh  water  overboard  was  reluctantly  done,  particu- 
larly as  we  now  felt  the  loss  of  the  caboose,  and  were  under  the 
necessity  of  eating  the  meat  raw,  which  occasioned  us  to  be  very 
thirsty.  Night  coming  on,  the  crew  were  not^  allowed  to  go  be- 
low to  sleep;  each  man,  when  it  came  to  his  turn,  stretched  himself 
on  the  deck. 

Oct.  23.  Notwithstanding  the  great  quantity  of  water  baled  from 
the  vessel,  she  gained  so  considerably  that  she  had  visibly  settled 
much  deeper  in  the  water.  All  hands  were  now  called  aft,  in 
order  to  consult  on  the  best  measures.  It  was  now  unanimously 
resolved  to  make  for  the  island  of  Bermudas,  it  being  the  nearest 
land.  Accordingly  we  bore  away  for  it,  but  had  not  sailed  many 
leagues  before  we  found  that  the  great  quantity  of  water  in  the 
vessel  had  impeded  her  steerage  so^nuch  that  she  would  scarcely 
answer  her  helm;  and  making  a  very  heavy  lurch,  the  ballast 
shifted,  which  gave  her  a  great  lift  to  the  starboard,  and  rendered 
it  very  difficult  to  keep  a  firm  footing  on  deck.  The  anchors 
which  were  stowed  on  the  larboard  bow  were  ordered  to  be  cut 
away,  and  the  cables  which  were  on  the  orlop  deck  to  be  hove 
overboard  in  order  to  right  her;  but  all  this  had  a  very  trifling 
effect,  for  the  ship  was  now  become  quite  a  log. 

The  crew  were  still  employed  in  baling;  one  of  whom,  in  pre- 
30 


350  THE    LOSS    OF    THE   PEGGY. 

venting  a  bucket  from  being  stove  against  the  combings,  let  go 
his  hold,  and  fell  down  the  hatchway;  with  great  difficulty  he 
escaped  being  drowned  or  dashed  against  the  ship's  sides.  Hav- 
ing got  into  a  bucket  which  was  instantly  lowered,  he  was  provi- 
dentially hoisted  on  deck  without  any  injury. 

During  the  night  the  weather  became  more  moderate,  and  on 
the  following  morning,  (Oct.  25),  the  gale  had  entirely  subsided, 
but  left  a  very  heavy  swell.  Two  large  whales  approached  close 
to  the  ship.  They  sported  round  the  vessel  the  whole  of  the  day, 
and  after  dusk  disappeared. 

Having  now  no  further  use  of  the  helm,  it  was  lashed  down, 
and  the  captain  and  mate  took  their  spell  at  the  buckets.  My 
assistance  having  been  also  required,  a  boy  of  less  strength, 
whose  previous  business  was  to  attend  the  cook,  now  took  rny  for- 
mer station  of  serving  the  crew  with  refreshments.  This  lad  had 
not  long  filled  his  new  situation  of  drawing  out  rum  from  the  cask, 
before  he  was  tempted  to  taste  it,  and  which  having  repeatedly 
done  he  soon  became  intoxicated,  and  was  missed  on  deck  for 
some  time.  I  was  sent  to  look  for  him.  The  spigot  I  perceived 
out  of  the  cask,  and  the  liquor  running  about,  but  the  boy  I  could 
not  see  for  some  time;  however  looking  down  the  lazeretto  (the 
trap-door  of  which  was  lying  open),  I  found  him  fast  asleep.  He 
had  luckily  fallen  on  some  sails  which  were  stowed  there,  or  he 
must  have  perished. 

On  the  26th  and  27th  of  October  the  weather  continued  quite 
clear,  with  light  baffling  winds.  A  man  was  constantly  kept  aloft 
to  look  out  for  a  sail.  The  rest  of  the  crew  were  employed  at 
the  whips. 

On  the  28th  the  weather  began  to  lower,  and  appeared  inclined 
for  rain.  This  gave  some  uneasiness,  being  apprehensive  of  a 
gale.  The  captain  therefore  directed  the  carpenter  to  overhaul 
the  long-boat,  caulk  her,  and  raise  a  streak  which  orders  were 
immediately  complied  with:  but  when  he  went  to  his  locker  for 
oakum,  he  found  it  plundered  of  nearly  the  whole  of  his  stock — 
all  hands  were  therefore  set  to  picking,  by  which  means  he  was 
soon  supplied. 

It  was  totally  clear  on  the  29th,  with  a  fresh  breeze,  but  the 
ship  heeled  so  much  that  her  gunwale  at  times  was  under  water, 
and  the  crew  could  scarcely  stand  on  deck.  All  hands  were  now 
ordered  to  assemble  aft,  when  the  captain,  in  a  short  address, 
pointed  out  the  most  probable  manner  by  which  they  could  be 
saved.  All  agreed  in  opinion  with  him,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
the  long-boat  should  be  hoisted  out  as  speedily  as  possible,  and 
such  '-necessaries  as  could  be  conveniently  stowed,  to  be  placed 
in  her.  Determined  no  longer  to  labor  at  the  buckets,  the  vessel, 
which  could  not  remain  above  water  many  hours  after  we  had 
ceased  baling,  was  now  abandoned  to  her  fate. 

I  now  began  to  reflect  on  the  small  chance  we  had  of  being 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    PEGGY.  3o 

saved — twenty-two  people  in  an  open  boat — upwards  of  three  hun- 
dred miles  from  land — in  a  boisterous  climate,  and  the  whole  crew 
worn  out  with  fatigue!  The  palms  of  the  crew's  hands  were  al- 
ready so  flayed  it  could  not  be  expected  that  they  could  do  much 
execution  with  the  oars — while  thus  reflecting  on  our  perilous 
situation,  one  of  our  oldest  seamen,  who  at  this  moment  was  stand- 
ing near  me,  turned  his  head  aside  to  wipe  away  a  tear — I  could  not 
refrain  from  sympathizing  with  him — my  heart  was  already  full! 
— The  captain  perceiving  my  despondency  bade  me  be  of  good 
cheer,  and  called  me  a  young  lubber. 

The  boat  having  been  hoisted  out,  and  such  necessaries  placed 
in  her  as  were  deemed  requisite,  one  of  the  hands  was  sent  aloft 
to  lash  the  «olors  downwards  to  the  main-top-mast  shrouds;  which 
having  done,  he  placed  himself  on  the  cross-trees,  to  look  around 
him,  and  almost  instantly  hallooed  out, — "  A  sail." — It  would  be 
impossible  to  describe  the  ecstatic  emotions  of  the  crew:  every 
man  was  aloft,  in  order  to  be  satisfied;  though,  a  minute  before, 
not  one  of  the  crew  was  able  to  stand  upright. 

The  sail  was  on  our  weather-bow,  bearing  right  down  on  us 
with  a  smart  breeze.  She  so«n  perceived  us,  but  hauled  her 
wind  several  times,  in  order  to  examine  our  ship.  As  she  ap- 
proached nearer  she  clearly  perceived  our  calamitous  situation, 
and  hastened  to  our  relief. 

She  proved  to  be  a  Philadelphia  schooner,  bound  to  Cape 
Francois,  in  St.  Domingo.  The  captain  took  us  all  on  board  in 
the  most  humane  and  friendly  manner,  and  after  casting  our  boat 
adrift,  proceeded  on  his  voyage.  When  we  perceived  our  ship 
from  the  vessel  on  which  we  were  now  h'appily  on  board,  her  ap- 
pearance was  truly  deplorable. 

The  captain  of  the  schooner  congratulated  us  on  our  fortunate 
escape,  and  expressed  his  surprise  that  the  ship  should  remain  so 
long  on  her  beam  ends,  in  such  a  heavy  sea,  without  capsizing. 
We  soon  began  to  distance  the  wreck,  by  this  time  very  low  in 
the  water,  and  shortly  after  lost  sight  of  her.  . 

The  evening  began  to  approach  fast,  when  a  man  loosing  the 
main-top-sail,  descried  a  sail  directly  in  the  same  course  on  our 
quarter.  We  made  sail  for  her,  and  soon  came  within  hail  of  her. 
She  proved  to  be  a  brig  from  Glasgow,  bound  to  Antigua.  It  was 
now  determined,  between  the  captains,  that  half  of  our  people 
should  remain  in  the  schooner,  and  the  captain,  mate,  eight  of 
the  crew,  and  myself,  should  get  on  board  the  brig.  On  our  ar- 
rival at  Antigua  we  met  with  much  kindness  and  humanity. 


352  THE    MEDUSA. 


THE  MEDUSA. 

In  July,  1816,  the  French  frigate  the  Medusa  was  wrecked  on 
the  coast  of  Africa,  when  part  of  the  ship's  company  took  to  their 
boats;  and  the  rest,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  had 
recourse  to  a  raft  hastily  lashed  together.  In  two  hours  after 
pushing  off  for  the  shore,  the  people  in  the  boats  had  the  cruelty 
to  bear  away  and  leave  the  raft,  already  laboring  hard  amid  the 
waves,  and  alike  destitute  of  provisions,  and  instruments  for  navi- 
gation, to  shift  for  itself.  "  From  the  moment,"  says  M.  Sevigne, 
from  whose  affecting  narrative  this  account  is  chiefly"^aken,  "  that 
I  was  convinced  of  our  being  abandoned,  I  was  strongly  impres- 
sed with  the  crowd  of  dark  and  horrible  images  that  presented 
themselves  to  my  imagination;  the  torments  of  hunger  and  thirst, 
the  almost  positive  certainty  of  never  more  seeing  my  country  or 
friends,  composed  the  painful  picture  before  my  eyes;  my  knees 
sunk  under  me,  and  my  hands  mechanically  sought  for  something 
to  lay  hold  on;  I  could  scarcely  articulate  a  word.  This  statf1 
soon  had  an  end,  and  then  all  my  mental  faculties  revived.  Hav- 
ing silenced  the  tormenting  dread  of  death,  I  endeavored  to  pour 
consolation  into  the  hearts  of  my  unhappy  companions,  who  were 
almost  in  a  state  of  stupor  around  me.  No  sooner,  however,  were 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  roused  from  their  consternation,  than  they 
abandoned  themselves  to  excessive  despair,  and  cried  furiously 
out  for  vengeance  on  those  who  had  abandoned  them;  each  saw 
h'is  own  ruin  inevitable,  and  clamorously  vociferated  the  dark  re- 
flections that  agitated  him."  Some  persons  of  a  finer  character 
joined  with  M.  Sevigne  in  his  humane  endeavors  to  tranquillize 
the  minds  of  these  wretched  sufferers;  and  they  at  last  partially 
succeeded,  by  persuading  them  that  they  would  have  an  oppor- 
tunity in  a  few  days  of  revenging  themselves  on  the  people  in  the 
boats.  "  I  own,"  says  M.  Sevigne,  "  this  spirit  of  vengeance  ani- 
mated every  one  of  us,  and  we  poured  vollies  of  curses  on  the 
boat's  crew,  whose  fatal  selfishness  exposed  us  to  so  many  evils 
and  dangers.  We  thought  our  sufferings  would  have  been  less 
cruel,  had  they  been  partaken  by  the  frigate's  whole  crew.  Nothing 
is  more  exasperating  to  the  unhappy,  than  to  think  that  those  who 
plunged  them  into  misery,  should  enjoy  every  favor  of  fortune." 

After  the  first  transports  of  passion  had  subsided,  the  sole  efforts 
of  their  more  collected  moments  were  directed  to  the  means  of 
gaining  the  land,  to  procure  provision.  All  that  they  had  on  board 
the  raft,  consisted  of  twenty-five  pounds  of  biscuit  and  some  hogs- 
heads of  wine.  The  imperious  desire  of  self-preservation  silenced 
every  fear  for  a  moment;  they  put  up  a  sail  on  the  raft,  and  every 
one  assisted  with  a  sort  of  delerious  enthusiasm:  not  one  of  them 
foresaw  the  real  extent  of  the  peril  by  which  they  were  surrounded. 


THE    MEDUSA.  353 

• 

The  day  passed  on  quietly  enough;  but  night  at  length  came 
on;  the  heavens  were  overspread  with  black  clouds;  the  winds 
unchained,  raised  the  sea  mountains  high;  terror  again  rode  tri- 
umphant on  the  billow;  dashed  from  side  to  side,  now  suspended 
betwixt  Hie  and  death,  bewailing  their  misfortune,  and  though  cer- 
tain of  death,  yet  struggling  with  the  merciless  elements  ready  to 
devour  them,  the  poor  off-casts  longed  for  the  coming  morn,  as 
if  it  had  been  the  sure  harbinger  of  safety  and  repose.  Often  was 
the  lust  doleful  ejaculation  heard  of  some  sailor  or  soldier  weary 
of  the  struggle,  rushing  into  the  embrace  of  death.  A  baker  and 
two  young  cabin  boys,  after  taking  leave  of  their  comrades,  dilib- 
erately  plunged  into  the  deep.  "  We  are  off,"  said  they,  and  in- 
stantly disappeared.  Such  was  the  commencement  of  that  dread- 
ful insanity  which  we  shall  afterwards  see  raging  in  the  most  cruel 
manner,  and  sweeping  off  a  crowd  of  victims.  In  the  course  of 
the  first  night,  twelve  persons  were  lost  from  the  raft. 

"The  day  coming  on,"  says  M.  Sevigne,  "brought  back  a 
little  calm  amongst  us;  some  unhappy  persons,  however,  near  me, 
were  not  come  to  their  senses.  A  charming  young  man,  scarcely 
sixteen,  asked  me  every  moment,  '  When  shall  we  eat?'  He 
stuck  to  me,  and  followed  me  every  where,  repeating  the  same 
question.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  Mr.  Griften  threw  himself 
into  the  sea,  but  I  took  him  up  again.  His  words  were  confused; 
I  gave  him  every  consolation  in  my  power,  and  endeavored  to  per- 
suade him  to  support  courageously  every  privation  we  were  suffer- 
ing. But  all  my  care  was  unavailing;  I  could  never  recall  him 
to  reason;  he  gave  no  sign  of  being  sensible  to  the  horror  of  our 
situation.  In  a  few  minutes  he  threw  himself  again  into  the  sea; 
but  by  an  effort  of  instinct,  held  to  a  piece  of  wood  that  went  be- 
yond the  raft,  and  he  was  taken  up  a  second  time." 

The  hope  of  still  seeing  the  boats  come  to  their  succour,  enabled 
them  to  support  the  torments  of  hunger  during  this  second  day; 
but  as  the  gloom  of  night  returned,  and  every  man  began,  as  it 
were,  to  look  in  upon  himself,  the  desire  of  food  rese  to  an  ungov- 
ernable height;  and  ended  in  a  state  of  general  delirium.  The 
greater  part  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  unable  to  appease  the  hun- 
ger that  preyed  upon  them,  and  persuaded  that  death  was  now  in- 
evitable took  the  fatal  resolution  of  softening  their  last  moments 
by  drinking  of  the  wine,  till  they  could  drink  no  more.  Attack- 
ing a  hogshead  in  the  centre  of  the  raft,  they  drew  large  libations 
from  it;  the  stimulating  liquid  soon  turned  their  delirium  into 
frenzy;  they  began  to  quarrel  and  fight  with  one  another;  and 
ere  long,  the  few  planks  on  which  they  were  floating,  between  time 
and  eternity,  became  the  scene  of  a  most  bloody  contest  for 
momentary  pre-eminence.  Xo  less  than  sixty-three  men  lost  their 
lives  on  this  unhappy  occasion. 

Shortly  after,  tranquillity  was  restored.  "  We  fell,"  says  M. 
Sevigne,  "  into  the  same  state  as  before:  this  insensibility  was  so 

30* 


354  THE    MEDUSA. 

great,  that  next  day  I  thought  myself  waking  out  of  a  disturbed 
sleep,  asking  the  people  round  me  if  they  had  seen  any  tumult, 
or  heard  any  cries  of  despair?  Some  answered,  that  they  too  had 
been  tormented  with  the  same  visions,  and  did  not  know  how  to 
explain  them.  Many  who  had  been  most  furious  during  the  night, 
were  now  sullen  and  motionless,  unable  to  utter  a  single  word. 
Two  or  three  plunged  into  the  ocean,  coolly  bidding  their  com- 
panions farewell;  others  would  say,  'Don't  despair;  I  am  going 
to  bring  you  relief;  you  shall  soon  see  me  again.'  Not  a  few 
even  thought  themselves  on  board  the  Medusa,  amidst  every  thing 
they  used  to  be  daily  surrounded  with.  In  a  conversation  with 
one  of  my  comrades,  he  said  to  me,  '  I  canaot  think  we  are  on  a 
raft;  I  always  suppose  myself  on  board  our  frigate.'  My  own 
judgment,  too,  wandered  on  these  points.  M.  Correard  imagined 
himself  going  over  the  beautiful  plains  of  Italy.  M.  Griflen  said 
very  seriously,  '  I  remember  we  were  forsaken  by  the  boats;  but 
never  fear,  I  have  just  written  to  Government,  and  in  a  few  hours 
we  shall  be  saved.'  M.  Correard  asked  quite  as  seriously,  '  and 
have  you  then  a  pigeon  to  carry  your  orders  so  fast?'  ' 

It  was  now  the  third  day  since  they  had  been  abandoned,  and 
hunger  began  to  be  most  sharply  felt;  some  of  the  men,  driven  to 
desperation,  at  length  tore  off  the  flesh  from  the  dead  bodies  that 
covered  the  raft,  and  devoured  it.  "  The  officers  and  passengers," 
says  M.  Sevigne^  "  to  whom  I  united  myself,  could  not  overcome 
the  repugnance  inspired  by  such  horrible  food;  we  however  tried 
to  eat  the  belts  of  our  sabres  ar;d  cartouch  boxes,  and  succeeded 
in  swallowing  some  small  pieces;  but  we  were  at  last  forced  to 
abandon  these  expedients,  which  brought  no  relief  to  the  anguish 
caused  by  total  abstinence." 

In  the  evening  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  take  nearly  two 
hundred  flying  fishes,  which  they  shared  immediately.  Having 
found  some  gunpowder,  they  made  a  fire  to  dress  them?  but  their 
portions  were  so  small,  and  their  hunger  so  great,  that  they  added 
human  flesh,  which  the  cooking  rendered  less  Disgusting;  the  offi- 
cers were  at  last  tempted  to  taste  of  it.  The  horrid  repast  was  fol- 
lowed with  another  scene  of  violence  and  confusion;  a  second 
engagement  took  place  during  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  only 
thirty  persons  were  left  alive  on  the  fatal  raft.  On  the  fourth 
night,  a  third  fit  of  despair  swept  off  fifteen  more;  so  that,  finally, 
the  number  of  miserable  beings  was  reduced  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  to  fifteen. 

"A  return  of  reason,"  says  M.  Sevigne,  "began  now  to 
enlighten  our  situation.  I  have  no  longer  to  relate  the  furious 
actions  dictated  by  dark  despair,  but  the  unhappy  state  of  fifteen 
exhausted  creatures  reduced  to  frightful  misery.  Our  gloomy 
thoughts  were  fixed  on  the  little  wine  that  was  left,  and  we  con- 
templated with  horror  the  ravages  which  despair  and  want  had 
made  amongst  us.  *  You  are  much  altered,'  said  one  of  my 


THE   MEDUSA.  355 

companions,  seizing  my  hand,  and  melting  into  tears.  Eight  days 
torments  had  rendered  us  no  longer  like  ourselves.  At  length, 
seeing  ourselves  so  reduced,  we  summoned  up  all  our  strength, 
and  raised  a  kind  of  stage  to  rest  ourselves  upon.  On  this  new 
theatre  we  resolved  to  wait  death  in  a  becoming  manner.  We 
passed  some  days  in  this  situation,  each  concealing  his  despair 
from  his  nearest  companion.  Misunderstanding,  however,  again 
took  place,  on  the  tenth  day  after  being  on  board  the  raft.  After 
a  distribution  of  wine,  several  of  our  companions  conceived  the 
idea  of  destroying  themselves  after  finishing  the  little  wine  that 
remained.  '  When  people  are  so  wretched  as  we,'  said  they, 
'  they  have  nothing  to  wish  for  but  death.'  We  made  the 
strongest  remonstrances  to  them;  but  their  diseased  brains  could 
only  fix  on  the  rash  project  which  they  had  conceived;  a  new 
contest  was  therefore  on  the  point  of  commencing,  but  at  length 
they  yielded  to  our  remonstrances.  Many  of  us,  after  receiving 
our  small  portion  of  wine,  fell  into  a  state  of  intoxication,  and 
then  great  misunderstandings  arose. 

"At  other  times  we  were  pretty  quiet,  and  sometimes  our 
natural  spirits  inspired  a  smile  in  spite  of  the  horrors  of  our  situa- 
tion. Says  one,  '  if  the  brig  is  sent  in  search  of  us,  let  us  pray 
to  God  to  give  her  the  eyes  of  Argus,'  alluding  to  the  name  of 
the  vessel  which  we  supposed  might  come  in  search  of  us. 

"  The  17th  in  the  morning,  thirteen  days  after  being  forsaken, 
while  each  was  enjoying  the  delights  of  his  poor  portion  of  wine, 
a  captain  of  infantry  perceived  a  vessel  in  the  horizon,  and  an- 
nounced it  with  a  shout  of  joy.  For  some  moments  we  were  sus- 
pended between  hope  and  fear.  Some  said,  they  saw  the  ship 
draw  nearer;  others,  that  it  was  sailing  away.  Unfortunately, 
these  last  were  not  mistaken,  for  the  brig  soon  disappeared. 
From  excess  of  joy,  we  now  sunk  into  despair.  For  my  part, 
I  was  so  accustomed  to  the  idea  of  death,  that  I  saw  it  approach 
with  indifference.  I  had  remarked  many  others  terminate  their 
existence  without  great  outward  signs  of  pain;  they  first  became 
quite  delirious,  and  nothing  could  appease  them;  after  that,  they 
fell  into  a  state  of  imbecility  that  ended  their  existence,  like  a  lamp 
that  goes  out  for  want  of  oil.  A  boy  twelve  years  old,  unable 
to  support  these  privations,  sunk  under  them,  alter  our  being  for- 
saken. All  spoke  of  this  fine  boy  as  deserving  a  better  fate;  his 
angelic  face,  his  melodious  voice,  and  his  tender  years,  inspired 
us  with  the  tenderest  compassion,  for  so  young  a  victim  devoted 
to  so  frightful  and  untimely  a  death.  Our  oldest  soldiers,  and, 
indeed,  every  one,  eagerly  assisted  him  as  far  as  circumstances 
permitted.  But,  alas!  it  was  all  in  vain;  neither  the  wine,  nor 
any  other  consolation,  could  save  him,  and  he  expired  in  M 
Coudin's  arms.  As  long  as  he  was  able  to  move,  he  was  con- 
tinually running  from  one  side  of  the  raft  to  the  other,  calling  out 
for  his  mother,  for  water,  and  for  food 


356  THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE. 


"  About  six  o'clock,  on  the  17th,  one  of  our  companions 
looking  out,  on  a  sudden  stretching  his  hands  forwards,  and  scarce- 
ly able  to  breathe,  cried  out,  '  Here's  the  brig  almost  alongside;' 
and,  in  fact,  she  was  actually  very  near.  We  threw  ourselves 
on  each  other's  necks  with  frantic  transports,  while  tears  trickled 
down  our  withered  cheeks.  She  soon  bore  upon  us  within  pistol 
shot,  sent  a  boat,  and  presently  took  us  all  on  board.  We  had 
scarcely  escaped,  when  some  of  us  became  delirious  again;  a 
military  officer  was  going  to  leap  into  the  sea,  as  he  said,  to  take 
up  his  pocket  book;  and  would  certainly  have  done  so,  but  for 
those  about  him;  others  were  affected  in  the  same  manner,  but  in 
a  less  degree. 

"  Fifteen  days  after  our  deliverancee,  I  felt  the  species  of  men- 
tal derangement  which  is  produced  by  great  misfortunes;  my  mind 
was  in  a  continual  agitation,  and  during  the  night,  I  often  awoke, 
thinking  myself  still  on  the  raft;  and  many  of  my  companions 
experienced  the  same  effects.  One  Francois  became  deaf,  and 
remained  for  a  long  time  in  a  state  of  idiotism.  Another  frequent- 
ly lost  his  recollection;  and  my  own  memory,  remarkably  good, 
before  this  event,  was  weakened  by  it  in  a  sensible  manner. 

"  At  the  moment  in  which  I  am  recalling  the  dreadful  scenes 
to  which  I  have  been  witness,  they  present  themselves  to  my  im- 
agination like  a  frightful  dream.  All  those  horrible  scenes  from 
which  I  so  miraculously  escaped,  seem  now  only  as  a  point  in  my 
existence.  Restored  to  health,  my  mind  sometimes  recalls  those 
visions  that  tormented  it,  during  the  fever  that  consumed  it.  In 
those  dreadful  moments  we  were  certainly  attacked  with  a  cere- 
bral fever,  in  consequence  of  excessive  mental  irritation.  And 
even  now,  sometimes  in  the  night,  after  having  met  with  any 
disappointment,  and  when  the  wind  is  high,  my  mind  recalls  the 
fatal  raft.  I  see  a  furious  ocean  ready  to  swallow  me  up;  hands 
uplifted  to  strike  me,  and  the  whole  train  of  human  passions  let 
loose;  revenge,  fury,  hatred,  treachery,  and  despair,  surrounding 
me!" 


THE  MAIN-TRUCK,  OR  A  LEAP  FOR  LIFE. 

"  Stand  still!     How  fearful 
And  dizzy  'tis  to  cast  one's  eyes  so  low!" 

"  The  murmuring  surge, 
That  on  th'  unnumbered  idle  pebbles  chafes, 
Cannot  be  heard  so  high: — I  Ml  look  no  more; 
Lest  my  brain  turn,  and  the  deficient  sight 
Topple  down  headlong." — Shakspeare. 

Among  the  many  agreeable  associates  whom  my  different  cruis- 
ings  and  wanderings  have  brought  rne  acquainted  with,  I  can 
scarcely  call  to  mind  a  more  pleasant  and  companionable  one  than 


THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAF    FOR    LIFE.  357 

Tom  Scupper.  Poor  fellow!  he  is  dead  and  gone  now — a  victim 
to  that  code  of  false  honor  which  has  robbed  the  navy  of  too 
many  of  its  choicest  officers.  Tom  and  I  were  messmates  during 
a  short  and  delightful  cruise,  and,  for  a  good  part  of  tlic  ti;ne,  we 
belonged  to  the  same  watch.  He  was  a  great  hand  to  spin  yarns, 
which,  to  do  him  justice,  he  sometimes  told  tolerably  well;  and 
many  a  long  mid-watch  has  his  fund  of  anecdotes  and  sea  stories 
caused  to  slip  pleasantly  away.  We  were  lying,  in  the  little 
schooner  to  which  we  were  attached,  in  the  open  roadstead  of 
Laguyra,  at  single  anchor,  when  Tom  told  me  the  story  which  I 
am  about  to  relate,  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember,  in  his  own 
words.  A  vessel  from  Baltimore  had  come  into  Laguyra  that 
day,  and  by  her  I  had  received  letters  from  home,  in  one  of  which 
there  was  a  piece  of  intelligence  that  weighed  very  heavily  on 
my  spirits.  For  some  minutes  after  our  watch  commenced,  Tom 
and  1  walked  the  deck  in  silence,  which  was  soon,  however,  in- 
terrupted by  my  talkative  companion,  who  perceiving  my  depres- 
sion, and  wishing  to  divert  my  thoughts,  began  as  follows: 

The  last  cruise  I  made  in  the  Mediterranean  was  in  old  Iron- 
sides, as  we  used  to  call  our  gallant  frigate.  We  had  been  back- 
ing and  filling  for  several  months  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa, 
from  the  Canaries  down  to  Messurado,  in  search  of  slave  traders; 
and  during  that  time  we  had  had  some  pretty  heavy  weather. 
When  we  reached  the  Straits,  there  was  a  spanking  wind  blowing 
from  about  west-south-west;  so  we  squared  away,  and,  without 
coming-to  at  the  Rock,  made  a  straight  wake  for  old  Mahon,  the 
general  rendezvous  and  place  of  refitting  for  our  squadrons  in 
the  Mediterranean.  Immediately  on  arriving  there,  we  warped 
in  alongside  the  Arsenal  quay,  where  we  stripped  ship  to  a  girt- 
line,  broke  out  the  holds,  tiers,  and  store-rooms,  and  gave  her  a 
regular-built  overhauling  from  stem  to  stern.  For  awhile,  every 
body  was  busy,  and  all  seemed  bustle  and  confusion.  Orders 
and  replies,  in  loud  and  dissimilar  voices,  the  shrill  pipings  of  the 
different  boatswain's  mates,  each  attending  to  separate  duties, 
and  the  mingled  clatter  and  noise  of  various  kinds  of  work,  all 
.going  on  the  same  time,  gave  something  of  the  stir  and  animation 
of  a  dock-yard  to  the  usually  quiet  arsenal  of  Mahon.  The 
boatswain  and  his  crew  were  engaged  in  fitting  a  new  gang  of 
rigging;  the  gunner  in  repairing  his  breechings  and  gun-tackles; 
the  fo 'castle-men  in  calking;  the  top-men  in  sending  down  the 
yards  and  upper  spars;  the  holders  and  waisters  in  whitewashing 
and  holy  stoning;  and  even  the  poor  marines  were  kept  busy,  like 
beasts  of  burden,  in  carrying  breakers  of  water  on  their  backs. 
On  the  quay,  near  the  ship,  the  smoke  of  the  armorer's  forge, 
which  had  been  hoisted  out  and  sent  ashore,  ascended  in  a  thin 
black  column  through  the  clear  blue  sky;  from  one  of  the  neigh- 
boring white  stone  warehouses  the  sound  of  saw  and  hammer  told 
that  the  carpenters  were  at  work;  near  by,  a  livelier  rattling 


358  THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE. 

drew  attention  to  the  cooper,  who  in  the  open  air  was  tightning 
the  water-casks;  and  not  far  removed,  under  a  temporary  shed, 
formed  of  spare  studding-sails  and  tarpaulins,  sat  the  sailmaker 
and  his  assistants,  repairing  the  sails,  which  had  been  rent  or  in- 
jured by  the  many  storms  we  had  encountered. 

Many  hands,  however,  make  light  work,  and  in  a  very  few  days 
all  was  accomplished:  the  stays  and  shrouds  were  set  up  and  new 
rattled  down;  the  yards  crossed,  the  running  rigging  rove,  and 
sails  bent;  and  the  old  craft,  fresh  painted  and  all  a-taunt-o,  look- 
ed as  fine  as  a  midshipman  on  liberty.  In  place  of  the  storm- 
stumps,  which  had  been  stowed  away  among  the  booms  and  other 
spare  spars,  amidships,  we  had  set  up  cap  to'gallant-masts,  and 
royal-poles,  with  a  sheave  for  skysails,  and  hoist  enough  for  sky- 
scrapers above  them:  so  you  may  judge  the  old  frigate  looked 
pretty  taunt.  There  was  a  Dutch  line-ship  in  the  harbor;  but 
though  we  only  carried  forty-four  to  her  eighty,  her  main-truck 
would  hardly  have  reached  to  our  royal-mast-head.  The  side- 
boys,  whose  duty  it  was  to  lay  aloft  and  furl  the  skysails,  looked 
no  bigger  on  the  yard  than  a  good-sized  duff  for  a  midshipman's 
mess,  and  the  main-truck  seemed  not  half  as  large  as  the  Turk's- 
head-knot  on  the  main-ropes  of  the  accommodation  ladder. 

When  we  had  got  every  thing  ship-shape  and  man-of-war  fash- 
ion, we  hauled  out  again,  and  took  our  birth  about  half  way 
between  the  Ausenal  and  Hospital  island;  and  a  pleasant  view  it 
gave  us  of  the  town  and  harbor  of  old  Mahon,  one  of  the  safest 
and  most  tranquil  places  of  anchorage  in  the  world.  The  water 
of  this  beautiful  inlet — which  though  it  makes  about  four  miles 
into  the  land,  is  not  much  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width — is 
scarcely  ever  ruffled  by  a  storm;  and  on  the  delightful  afternoon 
to  which  I  now  refer,  it  lay  as  still  and  motionless  as  a  polished 
mirror,  except  when  broken  into  momentary  ripples  by  the  pad- 
dles of  some  passing  waterman.  What  little  wind  we  had  had  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  day,  died  away  at  noon,  and,  though  the  first 
dog-watch  was  almost  out,  and  the  sun  was  near  the  horizon,  not 
a»breath  of  air  had  risen  to  disturb  the  deep  serenity  of  the 
scene.  The  Dutch  liner,  which  lay  not  far  from  us,  was  so 
clearly  reflected  in  the  glassy  surface  of  the  water,  that  there 
was  not  a  rope  about  her,  from  her  main-stay  to  her  signal  hal- 
liards, which  the  eye  could  not  distinctly  trace  in  her  shadowy  and 
inverted  image.  The  buoy  of  our  best  bower  floated  abreast  our 
larboard  bow;  and  that,  too,  was  so  strongly  imaged,  that  its  en- 
tire bulk  seemed  to  lie  above  the  water,  just  resting  on  it,  as  if 
upborne  on  a  sea  of  molten  lead;  except  when  now  and  then,  the 
wringing  of  a  swab,  or  the  dashing  of  a  bucket  overboard  from  the 
head,  broke  up  the  shadow  for  a  moment,  and  showed  the  sub- 
stance but  half  its  former  apparent  size.  A  small  polacca  craft 
had  got  underway  from  Mahon  in  the  course  of  the  forenoon,  in- 
tending to  stand  over  to  Barcelona;  but  it  fell  dead  calm  just 


THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE.  359 

before  she  reached  the  chops  of  the  harbor;  and  there  she  lay  as 
motionless  upon  the  blue  surface,  as  if  she  were  only  part  of  a 
mimic  scene,  from  the  pencil  of  some  accomplished  painter.  Her 
broad  cotton  lateen-sails,  as  they  hung  drooping  from  the  slanting 
and  taper  yards,  shone  with  a  glistening  whiteness  that  contrasted 
beautifully  with  the  dark  flood  in  which  they  were  reflected;  and 
the  distant  sound  of  the  guitar,  which  one  of  the  sailors  was 
listlessly  playing  on  her  deck,  came  sweetly  over  the  water,  and 
harmonized  well  with  the  quiet  appearance  of  every  thing  around. 
The  whitewashed  walls  of  the  lazaretto,  on  a  verdant  headland  at 
the  mouth  of  the  hay,  glittered  like  silver  in  the  slant  rays  of  the 
sun ;  and  some  of  its.  windows  were  burnished  so  brightly  by  the 
level  beams,  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  whole  interior  of  the  edifice 
were  in  flames.  On  the  opposite  side,  the  romantic  and  pictur- 
esque ruins  of  fort  St.  Philip,  faintly  seen,  acquired  double 
beauty  from  being  tipped  with  the  declining  light;  and  the  clusters 
of  ancient-looking  windmills,  which  dot  the  green  eminences 
along  the  bank,  added,  by  the  motionless  state  of  their  wings,  to 
the  effect  of  the  unbroken  tranquillity  of  the  scene. 

Even  on  board  our  vessel,  a  degree  of  stillness  unusual  for  a 
man-of-war  prevailed  among  the  crew.  It  was  the  hour  of -their 
evening  meal;  and  the  low  hum  that  came  from  the  gun-deck 
had  an  indistinct  and  buzzing  sound,  which,  like  the  tiny  song  of 
bees  of  a  warm  summer  noon,  rather  heightened  than  diminished 
the  charm  of  the  surrounding  quiet.  The  spar-deck  was  almost 
deserted.  The  quarter-master  of  the  watch,  with  his  spy-glass 
in  his  hand,  and  dressed  in  a  frock  and  trowsers  of  snowy  white- 
ness, stood  aft  upon  the  taffrel,  erect  and  motionless  as  a  statue, 
keeping  the  usual  look-out.  A  group  of  some  half  a  dozen  sailors 
had  gathered  together  on  the  fo'castle,  where  they  were  supinely 
lying  under  the  shade  of  the  bulwarks;  and  here  and  there,  upon 
the  gun-slides  along  the  gangway,  sat  three  or  four  others — one, 
with  his  clothes-bag  beside  him,  overhauling  his  simple  wardrobe; 
another  working  a  set  of  clues  for  some  favorite  officer's  hammock ; 
and  a  third  engaged,  perhaps,  in  carving  his  name  in  rude  letters 
upon  the  handle  of  a  jack-knife,  or  in  knotting  a  laniard  with 
which  to  suspend  it  round  his  neck. 

On  the  top  of  the  boom  cover,  and  in  the  full  glare  of  the  level 
sun,  lay  black  Jake,  the  jig-maker  of  the  ship,  and  a  striking 
specimen  of  African  peculiarities,  in  whose  single  person  they 
were  all  strongly  developed.  His  flat  nose  was  dilated  to  unusual 
width,  and  his  ebony  cheeks  fairly  glistened  with  delight,  as  he 
looked  up  at  the  gambols  of  a  large  monkey,  which,  clinging  to 
the  main-stay,  just  above  Jake's  woolly  head,  was  chattering  and 
grinning  back  at  the  negro,  as  if  there  existed  some  means  of 
mutual  intelligence  between  them.  It  was  my  watch  on  deck, 
and  I  had  been  standing  several  minutes  leaning  on  the  main  fife- 
rail,  amusing  myself  by  observing  the  antics  of  the  black  and  his 


360  THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE. 

congenial  playmate;  but  at  length,  tirjng  of  the  rude  mirth,  had 
turned  towards  the  taffrel,  to  gaze  on  the  more  agreeable  features 
of  that  scene  which  I  have  feebly  attempted  to  describe.  Just  at 
that  moment  a  shout  and  a  merry  laugh  burst  upon  my  ear,  and 
looking  quickly  round,  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  unusual 
sound  on  a. frigate's  deck,  I  saw  little  Bob  Stay  (as  we  called  our 
commodore's  son)  standing  half  the  way  up  the  main-hatch  lad- 
der, clapping  his  hands,  and  looking  aloft  at  some  object  that 
seemed  to  inspire  him  with  a  deal  of  glee.  A  single  glance  to 
the  main-yard  explained  the  occasion  of  his  merriment.  He  had 
been  corning  up  from  the  gun-deck,  when  Jacko,  perceiving  him 
on  the  ladder,  dropped  suddenly  down  from  the  main-stay,  and 
running  along  the  boom-cover,  leaped  upon  Bob's  shoulder, 
seized  his  cap  from  his  head,  and  immediately  darted  up  the 
main-topsail  sheet,  and  thence  to  the  bunt  of  the  mainyard, 
where  he  now  sat,  picking  threads  from  the  tassal  of  his  prize, 
and  occasionally  scratching  his  side,  and  chattering,  as  if  with 
exultation  for  the  success  of  his  mischief.  But  Bob  was  a 
sprightly,  active  little  fellow;  and  though  he  could  not  climb 
quite  as  nimble  as  a  monkey,  yet  he  had  no  mind  to  lose  his  cap 
without  an  effort  to  regain  it.  Perhaps  he  was  the  more  strongly 
incited  to  make  chase  after  Jacko,  from  noticing  me  to  smile  at 
his  plight,  or  by  the  loud  laugh  of  Jake,  who  seemed  inexpressibly 
delighted  at  the  occurrence,  and  endeavored  to  evince,  by  tumb- 
ling about  the  boom-cloth,  shaking  his  huge  misshapen  head,  and 
sundry  other  grotesque  actions,  the  pleasures  for  which  he  had  no 
words. 

"  Ha,  you  d — n  rascal,  Jocko,  hab  you  no  more  respec'  for  de 
young  officer,  den  to  steal  his  cab?  We  bring  you  to  de  gang- 
way, you  black  nigger,  and  gib  you  a  dozen  on  de  bare  back  for 
a  tief." 

The  monkey  looked  down  from  his  perch  as  if  he  understood 
the  threat  of  the  negro,  and  chattered  a  sort  of  defiance  in  an- 
swer. 

"  Ha,  ha!  Massa  Stay,  he  say  you  mus'  ketch  him  'fore  you 
flog  him-,  and  it's  no  so  easy  for  a  midshipman  in  boots  to  ketch 
a  monkey  barefoot." 

A  red  spot  mounted  to  the  cheek  of  little  Bob,  as  he  cast  one 
glance  of  offended  pride  at  Jake,  and  then  sprang  across  the  deck 
to  the  Jacob's  ladder.  In  an  instant  he  was  half-way  up  the  rig- 
ring,  running  over  the  ratlines  as  lightly  as  if  they  were  an  easy 
flight  of  stairs,  whilst  the  shrouds  scarcely  quivered  beneath  his 
elastic  motion.  In  a  second  more  his  hand  was  on  the  futtocks. 

"Massa  Stay!"  cried  Jake,  who  sometimes,  from  being  a 
favorite,  ventured  to  take  liberties  with  the  younger  officers, 
"  Massa  Stay,  you  best  crawl  through  de  lubber's  hole — it  take 
a  sailor  to  climb  a  futtock  shroud." 

But  he  had  scarcely  time  to  utter  his  pretended  caution,  before 


THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE.  361 

Bob  was  in  the  top.  The  monkey  in  the  meanwhile  had  awaited 
his  approach,  until  he  had  got  nearly  up  the  rigging,  when  it 
suddenly  put  the  cap  on  its  own  head,  and  running  along  the 
yard  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  top,  sprang  up  a  rope,  and  thence 
to  the  topmast  backstay,  up  which  it  ran  to  the  topmast  cross- 
trees,  where  it  again  quietly  seated  itself,  and  resumed  its  work 
of  picking  the  tassel  to  pieces.  For  several  minutes  I  stood 
watching  my  little  messmate  follow  Jacko  from  one  piece  of  rig- 
ging to  another,  the  monkey,,  all  the  while,  seeming  to  exert  only 
so  much  agility  as  was  necessary  to  elude  the  pursuer,  and  paus- 
ing whenever  the  latter  appeared  to  be  growing  weary  of  the 
chase.  At  last,  by  this  kind  of  manoeuvring,  the  mischievous 
animal  succeeded  in  enticing  Bob  as  high  as  the  royal-mast- 
head, when  springing  suddenly  on  the  royal-stay,  it  ran  nimbly 
down  to  the  fore-to'gallant-mast  head,  thence  down  the  rigging  to 
the  fore-top,  when  leaping  on  the  foreyard,  it  ran  out  to  the  yard- 
arm,  and  hung  the  cap  on  the  end  of  the  studding-sail  boom, 
where,  taking  its  seat,  it  raised  a  loud  and  exulting  chattering. 
Bob  by  this  time  was  completel/Tired  out,  and,  perhaps,  unwilling 
to  return  to  the  deck  to  be  laughed  at  for  his  fruitless  chase,  he 
sat  down  on  the  royal  cross-trees;  while  those  who  had  been 
attracted  by  the  sport,  returned  to  their  usual  avocations  or 
amusements.  The  monkey,  no  longer  the  object  of  pursuit  or 
attention,  remained  but  a  little  while  on  the  yard-arm;  but  soon 
taking  op  the  cap,  returned  in  towards  the  slings,  and  dropped  it 
down  upon  deck. 

Some  little  piece  of  duty  occurred  at  this  moment  to  engage 
me,  as  soon  as  which  was  performed  I  walked  aft,  and  leaning 
my  elbow  on  the  taffrel,  was  quickly  lost  in  the  recollection  of 
scenes  very  different  from  the  small  pantomime  I  had  just  been 
witnessing.  Soothed  by  the  low  hum  of  the  crew,  and  by  the 
quiet  loveliness  of  every  thing  around,  my  thoughts  had  travelled 
far  away  from  the  realities  of  my  situation,  when  I  was  suddenly 
startled  by  a  cry  from  black  Jake,  which  brought  me  on  the  instant 
back  to  consciousness. 

"  My  God!  Massa  Scupper,"  cried  he,  "  Massa  Stay  is  on  de 
main-truck!" 

A  cold  shudder  ran  through  my  veins  as  the  word  reached  my 
ear.  I  cast  my  eyes  up — it  was  too  true!  The  adventurous  boy, 
after  resting  on  the  royal  cross-trees,  had  been  seized  with  a  wish 
to  go  still  higher,  arid  impelled  by  one  of  those  impulses  by  which 
men  are  sometimes  instigated  to  place  themselves  in  situations 
of  imminent  peril  without  a  possibility  of  good  resulting  from  the 
exposure,  he  had  climbed  the  skysail-pole,  and,  at  the  moment  of 
my  looking  up,  was  actually  standing  on  the  main-truck!  a  small 
circular  piece  of  wood  on  the  very  summit  of  the  loftiest  mast, 
and  at  a  height  so  great  from  the  deck  that  my  brain  turned  dizzy 
as  I  looked  up  at  him.  The  reverse  of  Virgil's  line  was  true  in 

31 


362  THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE 

this  instance.  It.  was  comparatively  easy  to  ascend — but  to  de- 
scend— my  head  swam  round,  and  my  stomach  felt  sick  at  thought 
of  the  perils  comprised  in  that  one  word.  There  was  nothing 
above  him  or  around  him  but  the  empty  air — and  beneath  him. 
nothing  but  a  point,  a  mere  point — a  small,  unstable  wheel,  that 
seemed  no  bigger  from  the  deck  than  the  button  on  the  end  of  a 
foil,  and  the  taper  skysail-pole  itself  scarcely  larger  than  the 
blade.  Dreadful  temerity!  If  he  should  attempt  to  stoop,  what 
could  he  take  hold  of  to  steady  his  descent?  His  feet  quite 
covered  up  the  small  and  fearful  platform  that  he  stood  upon,  and 
beneath  that,  a  long,  smooth,  naked  spar,  which  seemed  to  bend 
with  his  weight,  was  all  that  upheld  him  from  destruction.  An 
attempt  to  get  down  from  "that  bad  eminence,"  would  be  almost 
certain  death;  he  would  inevitably  lose  his  equilibrium,  and.be 
precipitated  to  the  deck  a  crushed  and  shapeless  mass.  Such 
was  the  nature  of  the  thoughts  that  crowded  through  my  mind  as  I 
first  raised  my  eye,  and  saw  the  terrible  truth  of  Jake's  excla- 
mation. What  was  to  be  done  in  the  pressing  and  horrible  exi- 
gency? To  hail  him,  and  inform  him  of  his  danger,  would  be 
but  to  ensure  his  ruin.  Indeed,  I  fancied  that  the  rash  boy 
already  perceived  the  imminence  of  his  peril;  and  I  half  thought 
that  I  could  see  his  limbs  begin  to  quiver,  and  his  cheek  turn 
deadly  pale.  Every  moment  I  expected  to  see  the  dreadful  catas- 
trophe. I  could  not  bear  to  look  at  him,  and  yet  could  not  with- 
draw my  gaze.  A  film  came  over  my  eyes,  and  a  faintness  over 
my  heart.  The  atmosphere  seemed  to  grow  thick,  and  to  tremble 
and  waver  like  the  heated  air  around  a  furnace;  the  mast  appeared 
to  totter,  and  the  ship  to  pass  from  under  my  feet.  I  myself  had 
the  sensations  of  one  about  to  fall  from  a  great  height,  and  making 
a  strong  effort  to  recover  myself,  like  that  of  a  dreamer  who 
fancies  he  is  shoved  from  a  precipice,  I  staggered  up  against  the 
bulwarks. 

When  my  eyes  were  once  turned  from  the  dreadful  object  to 
which  they  had  been  riveted,  my  sense  and  consciousness  came 
baek.  I  looked  around  me — the  deck  was  already  crowded  with 
people.  The  intelligence  of  poor  Bob's  temerity  had  spread 
through  the  ship  like  wild-fire — as  such  news  always  will — -and 
the  officers  and  crew  were  all  crowding  to  the  deck  to  behold  the 
appalling — the  heart-rending  spectacle.  Every  one,  as  he  looked 
up,  turned  pale,  and  his  eye  became  fastened  in  si.ence  on  the 
truck — like  that  of  a  spectator  of  an  execution  on  the  gallows — 
with  a  steadfast,  unblinking  and  intense,  yet  abhorrent  gaze,  as 
if  momently  expecting  a  fatal  termination  to  the  awful  suspense. 
No  one  made  a  suggestion — no  one  spoke.  Every  feeling,  every 
faculty  seemed  to  be  absorbed  and  swallowed  up  in  one  deep,  in- 
tense emotion  of  agony.  Once  the  first  lieutenant  seized  the 
trumpet,  as  if  to  hail  poor  Bob,  but  he  had  scarce  raised  it  to  his 
lips  when  his  arm  dropped  again,  and  sunk  listlessly  down  beside 


•     THE    MAIN-TRUCK,    OR    A    LEAP    FOR    LIFE.  363 

him,  as  if  from  a  sad  consciousness  of  the  utter  inutility  of  what 
he  had  been  going  to  say.  Every  soul  in  the  ship  was  now  on 
the  spar-deck,  and  every  eye  was  turned  to  the  main-truck. 

At  this  moment  there  was  a  stir  among  the  crew  about  the 
gangway,  and  directly  after  another  face  was  added  to  those  on 
the  quarter-deck — it  was  that  of  the  commodore,  Bob's  father. 
He  had  come  alongside  in  a  shore  boat,  without  having  been 
noticed  by  a  single  eye,  so  intense  and  universal  was  the  interest 
that  had  fastened  every  gaze  upon  the  spot  where  poor  Bob  stood 
trembling  on  the  awful  verge  of  fate.  The  commodore  asked 
not  a  question,  uttered  not  a  syllable.  He  was  a  dark-faced, 
austere  man,  and  it  was  thought  by  some  of  the  midshipmen  that 
he  entertained  but  little  affection  for  his  son.  However  that 
might  have  been,  it  was  certain  that  he  treated  him  with  precisely 
the  same  strict  discipline  that  he  did  the  other  young  officers,  or 
if  there  was  any  difference  at  all,  it  was  not  in  favor  of  Bob. 
Some,  who  pretended  to  have  studied  his  character  closely,  af- 
firmed that  he  loved  his  boy  too  well  to  spoil  him,  and  that,  in- 
tending him  for  the  arduous  profession  in  which  he  had  himself 
risen  to  fame  and  eminence,  he  thought  it  would  be  of  service 
to  him  to  experience  some  of  its  privations  and  hardships  at  the 
outset. 

The  arrival  of  the  commodore  changed  the  direction  of 
several  eyes,  which  now  turned  on  him  to  trace  what  emotions 
the  danger  of  his  son  would  occasion.  But  their  scrutiny  was 
foiled.  By  no  outward  sign  did  he  show  what  was  passing  with- 
in. His  eye  still  retained  its  severe  expression,  his  brow  the 
slight  frown  which  it  usually  wore,  arid  his  lip  its  haughty  curl. 
Immediately  on  reaching  the  deck,  he  had  ordered  a  marine  to 
hand  him  a  musket,  and  with  this  stepping  aft,  and  getting  on  the 
lookout-block,  he  raised  it  to  his  shoulder,  and  took  a  deliberate 
aim  at  his  son,  at  the  same  time  hailing  him,  without  a  trumpet, 
in  his  voice  of  thunder. 

"Robert!"  cried  he,  "jump!  jump  overboard!  or  I'll  fire  at 
you." 

The  boy  seemed  to  hesitate,  and  it  was  plain  that  he  was  totter- 
ing, for  his  arms  were  thrown  out  like  those  of  one  scarcely-able 
to  retain  his  balance.  The  commodore  raised  his  voice  again, 
and  in  a  quicker  and  more  energetic  tone  cried, 

"  Jump!  't  is  your  only  chance  for  life." 

The  words  were  'scarcely  out  of  his  mouth,  before  the  body 
was  seen  to  leave  the  truck  and  spring  out  into  the  air.  A  sound, 
between  a  shriek  and  groan  burst  from  many  lips.  The  father 
spoke  not — sighed  not — indeed  he  did  not  seem  to  breathe. 
For  a  moment  of  intense  agony  a  pin  might  have  been  heard  to 
drop  on  deck.  With  a  rush  like  that  of  a  cannon  ball,  the  body 
descended  to  the  water,  and  before  the  waves  closed  over  it, 
twenty  stout  fellows,  among  them  several  officers,  had  dived  from 


364  THE  HARPOONER  TRANSPORT. 

the  bulwarks.  Another  short  period  of  bitter  suspense  ensued. 
It  rose — he  was  alive!  his  arms  were  seen  to  move! — he  struck 
out  towards  the  ship!— and  despite  the  discipline  of  a  man-of-war, 
three  loud  huzzas,  an  outburst  of  unfeigned  and  unrestrainable 
joy  from  the  hearts  of  our  crew  of  five  hundred  men,  pealed 
through  the  air,  and  made  the  welkin  ring.  Till  this  moment, 
the  old  commodore  had  stood  unmoved.  The  eyes,  that  glisten- 
ing with  pleasure,  now  sought  his  face,  saw  that  it  was  ashy  pale. 
He  attempted  to  descend  the  horse-block,  but  his  knees  bent 
under  him;  he  seemed  to  gasp  for  breath,  and  put  up  his  hand,  as 
if  to  tear  open  his  vest;  but  before  he  accomplished  his  object, 
he  staggered  forward,  and  would  have  fallen  on  the  deck,  had  he 
not  been  caught  by  old  Black  Jake.  He  was  borne  into  his 
cabin,  where  the  surgeon  attended  him,  whose  utmost  skill  was 
required  to  restore  his  mind  to  its  usual  equability  and  self-com- 
mand, in  which  he  at  last  happily  succeeded.  As  soon  as  he 
recovered  from  the  dreadful  shock,  he  sent  for  Bob,  and  had  a 
long  confidential  conference  with  him;  and  it  was  noticed  when 
the  little  fellow  left  the  cabin  that  he  was  in  tears.  The  next  day 
we  sent  down  our  taunt  and  dashy  poles,  and  replaced  them  with 
the  stump-to 'gallant-masts;  and  on  the  third,  we  weighed  anchor, 
and  made  sail  for  Gibraltar. 


THE  HARPOONER  TRANSPORT. 

The  hired  transport  Harpooner,  was  lost  near  Newfoundland, 
in  November,  1818;  she  had  on  board  three  hundred  and  eighty 
five  men,  women,  and  children,  including  the  ship's  company. 
The  passengers  consisted  of  detachments  of  several  regiments, 
with  their  families,  who  were  on  their  way  to  Quebec.  On  Sat- 
urday evening,  November  10th,  a  few  minutes  after  nine  o'clock, 
the  second  mate  on  watch  called  out,  "  the  ship's  aground;"  at 
which  she  slightly  struck  on  the  outermost  rock  of  St.  Shotts,  in 
the  Island  of  Newfoundland.  She  beat  over,  and  proceeded  a 
short  distance,  when  she  struck  again,  and  filled;  encircled  among 
rocks,  the  wind  blowing  strong,  the  night  dark,  and  a  very  heavy 
sea  rolling,  she  soon  fell  over  on  her  larboard  beam  end;  and,  to 
heighten  the  terror  and  alarm,  a  lighted  candle  communicated 
fire  to  some  spirits  in  the  master's  cabin,  which,  in  the  confusion, 
was  with  difficulty  extinguished. 

The  ship  still  driving  over  the  rocks,  her  masts  were  cut  away, 
by  which  some  men  were  carried  overboard.  The  vessel  drifted 
over,  near  the  high  rocks,  towards  the  main.  In  this  situation, 
every  one  became  terrified:  the  suddeness  of  the  sea  rushing  in, 


THE    HARPOOXER    TRANSPORT.  365 

carried  away  the  births  and  stauncheons  between  decks,  when 
men,  women,  and  children,  were  drowned,  and  many  were  killed 
by  the  force  with  which  they  were  driven  against  the  lose  bag- 
gage, casks,  and  staves,  which  floated  below.  All  that  possibly 
could,  got  upon  deck,  but  from  the  crowd  and  confusion  that 
prevailed,  the  orders  of  the  officers  and  master  to  the  soldiers 
and  seamen  were  unavailing;  death  staring  every  one  in  the  face; 
the  ship  striking  on  the  rocks,  as  though  she  would  instantly 
upset.  The  shrieking  and  pressing  of  the  people  to  the  starboard 
side  was  so  violent,  that  several  were  much  hurt.  About  eleven 
o'clock,  the  boats  on  the  deck  were  washed  overboard  by  a  heavy 
sea:  but  even  from  the  commencement  of  the  disaster,  the  hopes 
of  any  individual  being  saved  were  but  very  small. 

From  this  time,  until  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  all  on  the 
wreck  were  anxiously  praying  for  the  light  to  break  upon  them. 
The  boat  from  the  stern  was  in  the  meanwhile  lowered  down, 
when  the  first  mate  and  four  seamen,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives, 
pushed  off  to  the  shore.  They  with  difficulty  effected  a  landing 
upon  the  main  land,  behind  a  high  rock,  nearest  to  where  the 
stern  of  the  vessel  had  been  driven.  The  log-line  was  thrown 
from  the  wreck,  with  a  hope  that  they  might  lay  hold  of  it;  but 
darkness,  and  the  tremendous  surf  that  beat,  rendered  it  imprac- 
ticable. During  this  awful  time  of  suspense,  the  possibility  of 
sending  a  line  to  them  by  a  dog  occurred  to  the  master:  the  ani- 
mal was  brought  aft,  and  thrown  into  the  sea  with  a  line  tied  round 
his  middle,  and  with  it  he  swam  towards  the  rock  upon  which  the 
mate  and  seamen  were  standing.  It  is  impossible  to  describe 
the  sensations  which  were  excited  at  seeing  this  faithful  dog  strug- 
gling with  the  waves;  and  on  reaching  the  summit  of  the  rock 
repeatedly  dashed  back  again  by  the  surf  into  the  sea;  until  at 
length,  by  unceasing  exertions,  he  effected  a  landing.  One  end 
of  the  line  being  on  board,  a  stronger  rope  was  hauled  and  fastened 
to  the  rock. 

At  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  11th,  the  first  person 
was  landed  by  this  means;  and  afterwards,  by  an  improvement  in 
rigging  the  rope,  and  placing  each  individual  in  slings,  they  were 
with  greater  facility  extricated  from  the  wreck;  but  during  this 
passage,  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  unfortunate 
sufferers  could  maintain  their  hold,  as  the  sea  beat  over  them  and 
some  were  dragged  to  the  shore  in  a  state  of  insensibility.  Lieu- 
tenant Wilson  was  lost,  being  unable  to  hold  on  the  rope  with 
his  hands;  he  was  twice  struck  by  the  sea,  fell  backwards  out  of 
the  slinors.  and  after  swimming  for  a  considerable  time  amongst 
the  floating  wreck,  by  which  he  was  struck  on  the  head,  he  per- 
ished. Many  who  threw  themselves  overboard,  trusting  for  their 
safety  to  swimming,  were  lost:  they  were  dashed  to  pieces  by  the 
surf  on  the  rocks,  or  by  the  floating  pieces  of  the  wreck. 

The  rope  at  length,  by  constant  working,  and  by  swinging 

31* 


366  THE    HARPOONER    TRANSPORT. 

across  the  sharp  rock,  was  cut  in  two;  and  there  being  no  means 
of  replacing  it,  the  spectacle  became  more  than  ever  terrific;  the 
sea  beating  over  the  wreck  with  great  violence,  washed  numbers 
overboard ;  and  at  last  the  wreck,  breaking  up  at  the  stern  from 
midships  and  forecastle,  precipitated  all  that  remained  into  one 
common  destruction. 

The  parting  of  the  ship  was  noticed  by  those  on  shore,  and 
signified  with  the  most  dreadful  cry  of  "  Go  FORWARD!" — It  is 
difficult  to  paint  the  horror  of  the  scene; — children  clinging  to 
their  parents  for  help;  parents  themselves  struggling  with  death, 
and  stretching  out  their  feeble  arms  to  save  their  children,  dying 
within  their  grasp. 

The  total  number  of  persons  lost  was  two  hundred  and  eight, 
and  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  were  saved. 

Lieutenant  Mylrea,  of  the  4th  Veteran  Battalion,  one  of  the 
oldest  subalterns  in  the  service,  and  then  upwards  of  seventy 
years  of  age,  was  the  last  person  who  quitted  the  wreck;  when 
he  had  seen  every  other  person  either  safe,  or  beyond  the  power 
of  assistance,  he  threw  himself  on  to  a  rock,  from  which  he  was 
afterwards  rescued. 

Among  the  severest  sufferers,  was  the  daughter  of  Surgeon 
Armstrong,  who  lost  on  this  fatal  night  her  father,  mother,  brother, 
and  two  sisters! 

The  rock  which  the  survivors  were  landed  upon,  was  about  one 
hundred  feet  above  the  water,  surrounded  at  the  flowing  of  the 
tide.  On  the  top  of  this  rock  they  were  obliged  to  remain  during 
the  whole  of  the  night,  without  shelter,  food,  or  nourishment,  ex- 
posed to  wind  and  rain,  and  many  without  shoes.  The  only 
comfort  that  presented  itself  was  a  fire,  which  was  made  from 
pieces  of  the  wreck  that  had  been  washed  ashore. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  at  low  water, m their 
removal  to  the  opposite  land  was  effected,  some  being  let  down  by 
a  rope,  others  slipping  down  a  ladder  to  the  bottom.  After  they 
crossed  over,  they  directed  their  course  to  a  house  or  fisherman's 
shed,  distant  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  wreck,  where  they 
remained  until  the  next  day;  the  proprietor  of  this  miserable  shed 
not  having  the  means  of  supplying  relief  to  so  considerable  a  num- 
ber as  took  refuge,  a  party  went  over  land  to  Trepassy,  about 
fourteen  miles  distant,  through  a  marshy  country,  not  inhabited 
by  any  human  creature.  This  party  arrived  at  Trepassy,  and  re- 
ported the  event  to  Messrs.  Jackson,  Burke,  Sims,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Brown,  who  immediately  took  measures  for  alleviating  the 
distressed,  by  despatching  men  with  provisions  and  spirits,  and 
to  assist  in  bringing  all  those  forward  to  Trepassy  who  could 
walk. 

On  the  13th,  in  the  evening,  the  major  part  of  the  survivors 
(assisted  by  the  inhabitants,  who,  during  the  journey  carried 
the  weak  and  feeble  upon  their  backs)  arrived  at  Trepassy  where 


COMMODORE    BARNEY.  367 

they  were  billeted,  by  order  of  the  magistrate,  proportionably 
upon  each  house. 

Their  still  remained  at  St.  Shotts,  the  wife  of  a  serjeant  of  the 
Veteran  Battalion;  with  a  child,  of  which  she  was  delivered  on 
the  top  of  the  rocks  shortly  after  she  was  saved.  A  private,  whose 
leg  was  broken,  and  a  woman  severely  bruised  by  the  wreck,  were 
also  necessarily  left  there.  m 

Immediately  after  the  arrival  at  Trepassy,  measures  were  adopt- 
ed for  the  comfort  and  refreshment  of  the  detachments,  and  boats 
were  provided  for  their  removal  to  St.  John's,  where  they  ultimate- 
ly arrived  in  safety. 


COMMODORE    BARNEY. 

"  The  old  Commodore, 

The  fighting  old  Commodore  he." 

No  old  Triton  who  has  passed  his  calms  under  the  bows  of  the 
long  boat  could  say  of  Joshua  Barney  that  he  came  into  a  master's 
berth  through  the  cabin  windows.  He  began  at  the  rudiments, 
and  well  he  understood  the  science.  All  his  predilections  were 
for  the  sea.  Having  deserted  the  counting  room,  young  Barney, 
at  the  age  of  twelve,  was  placed  for  nautical  instruction  in  a  pilot 
boat  at  Baltimore,  till  he  was  apprenticed  to  his  brother-in-law. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  was  appointed  second  mate,  with  the 
approbation  of  the  owners,  and  before  he  was  sixteen  he  was  call- 
ed upon  to  take  charge  of  his  ship  at  sea,  in  which  the  master 
died.  .This  was  on  a  voyage  to  Nice.  The  ship  was  in  such  a 
state  that  it  was  barely  possible  to  make  Gibraltar,  where  for 
necessary  repairs  he  pledged  her  for  <£700,  to  be  repaid  by  the 
consignee  at  .Nice,  who  however  declined,  and  called  in  the  aid 
of  the  Governor  to  compel  Barney  to  deliver  the  cargo,  which  he 
had  refused  to  do.  He  was  imprisoned,  but  set  at  large  on  some 
intimation  that  he  would  do  as  desired,  but  when  he  came  on  board, 
he  struck  his  flag,  and  removed  his  crew,  choosing  to  consider 
his  vessel  as  captured  He  then  set  out  for  Milan,  to  solicit  the 
aid  of  the  British  Ambassador  there,  in  which  he  succeeded  so 
well,  that  the  authorities  of  Nice  met  him  on  his  return  to  apolo- 
gize for  their  conduct.  The  assignees  paid  the  bond,  and  Bar- 
ney sailed  for  Alicant,  where  his  vessel  was  detained  for  the  use 
of  the  great  armada,  then  fitting  out  against  Algiers,  the  fate  of 
which  was  total  and  shameful  defeat.  On  his  return  home,  his 
employer  was  so  well  satisfied  with  his  conduct,  that  he  became 
his  firm  friend  ever  after.  He  soon  offered  himself  as  second  in 
!  command  on  board  the  sloop  Hornet,  often  guns,  one  of  two  ves- 


368  COMMODORE    BARNEY. 

sels  then  preparing  for  a  cruise  under  Commodore  Hopkins,  for 
this  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  revolution.  The  sloop  fell  in 
with  a  British  tender,  which  she  might  have  captured,  but  for 
the  timidity  of  the  American  captain.  The  tender,  mistaking  her 
enemy,  ran  alongside  and  exposed  herself  to  much  danger.  Bar- 
ney, stood  by  one  of  the  guns  as  the  enemy  came  near,  and  was 
about  to  apply  the  match,  when  the  bojd  commander  commanded 
him  to  desist.  Barney,  whose  spirit  revolted  at  such  a  cause, 
threw  his  match-stick  at  the  captain,  with  such  force  that  the  iron 
point  stuck  in  the  door  of  the  round-house.  This,  in  a  youth  not 
seventeen,  argued  well  for  the  pugnacity  of  the  man.  At  the  end 
of  this  cruise,  he  volunteered  on  board  the  schooner  Wasp,  in 
which  he  soon  had  a  brush  with  the  Roebuck  and  another  frigate, 
and  with  the  aid  of  some  galleys  in  which  he  had  a  command,  the 
enemy  was  forced  to  retreat,  with  more  loss  than  honor.  -Barney, 
for  his  good  conduct  in  this  affair,  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  sloop  Sachem,  with  the  commission  of  Lieutenant,  before 
he  was  seventeen.  Before  the  cruise,  however,  Captain  Robin- 
son took  command  of  the  Sachem,  which  soon  had  an  action  with 
a  letter-of-marque  of  superior  force  and  numbers.  It  was  well  con- 
tested, and  nearly  half  the  crew  of  the  brig  were  killed  or  wound- 
ed. In  about  two  hours  the  letter-of-marque  struck.  The  captors 
secured  a  valuable  prize,  in  a  cargo  of  rum,  and  also  a  magnificent 
turtle,  intended  as  a  present  to  Lord  North,  whose  name  was 
marked  on  the  shell.  This  acceptable  West-Indian,  Lieutenant 
Barney  presented  to  a  better  man  than  it  had  been  designed  for, 
for  he  gave  it  to  the  Hon.  R.  Morris.  On  the  return  of  the  Sa- 
chern,  both  officers  were  transferred  to  a  fine  brig  of  fourteen 
guns,  the  Andrew  Doria,  which  forthwith  captured  the  Racehorse, 
of  twelve  guns,  and  a  picked  crew.  This  vessel  was  of  the  Royal 
Navy,  and  had  been  detached  by  the  Admiral  purposely  to  take 
the  Doria;  but,  saith  the  proverb,  if  two  men  ride  the  same  horse, 
one  must  ride  behind. 

On  this  voyage  a  snow  was  captured,  in  which  the  Lieutenant 
went  as  prize  master,  making  up  his  crew  partly  of  the  prisoners. 
Being  hard  by  an  enemy's  ship,  he  discovered  signs  of  mutiny 
among  his  crew,  and  shot  the  ringleader  in  the  shoulder;  a  pro- 
ceeding that  offered  so  little  encouragement  to  his  comrades,  that 
they  obeyed  orders,  and  made  sail,  but  it  was  too  late  to  escape. 
The  purser  of  the  frigate  which  captured  him,  was,  on  a  subse- 
quent occasion,  so  much  excited  as  to  strike  Barney,  who  knocked 
him  down,  and  went  further  in  his  resentment  than  fair  fighting 
permits,  for  he  kicked  him  down  the  gangway. — The  commander 
obliged  the  purser  to  apologize  to  Barney.  Having  been  cap- 
tured in  the  Virginia  frigate,  which  ran  aground  at  the  Capes, 
and  was  deserted  by  her  commander,  Barney,  with  five  hundred 
other  prisoners,  was  sent  round,  in  the  St.  Albans  frigate,  to  New. 
York.  As  the  prisoners  were  double  in  number  to  the  crew, 


COMMODORE    BARXEY.  369 

Barney  formed  a  plan  of  taking  the  ship,  which  was  defeated  or 
prevented,  by  the  treachery  of  a  Frenchman. 

"  O  for  a  curse  to  kill  the  slave, 

Whose  treason,  like  a  deadly  blight, 
Comes  o'er  the  councils  of  the  brave, 

To  blast  them  in  the  hour  of  might." 

Barney  was  a  prisoner  at  New  York,  for  five  months,  after 
which  he  took  the  command  of  a  schooner  of  two  guns,  and  eight 
men,  with  a  cargo  of  tobacco  for  St.  Eustatia,  for  he  was  better 
pleased  to  do  a  little  than  to  do  nothing.  He  was,  however,  taken, 
after  a  running  fight,  by  boarding,  by  a  privateer  of  four  large 
guns  and  sixty  men.  His  next  cruise  was  with  his  friend  Robin- 
son, in  a  private  ship  of  ten  guns  and  thirty-five  men,  in  which 
they  encountered  the  British  privateer  Rosebud  of  sixteen  guns 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  men.  On  the  return,  a  letter-of- 
marque  of  sixteen  guns  and  seventy  men  was  captured.  The 
Lieutenant  had  now  prize  money  enough  to  be  converted,  on  his 
return,  into  a  large  bundle  of  continental  bills,  which  he  stowed 
away  in  a  chaise  box,  on  taking  a  journey,  but  which  he  could 
not  find  when  he  arrived  at  his  destination.  He  kept  his  own 
secret,  however,  and  "went  to  sea  again,"  second  in  command 
of  the  United  States'  ship  Saratoga,  of  sixteen  nine-pounders. 
The  first  prize  was  a  ship  of  twelve  guns,  captured  after  an  action 
of  a  few  minutes.  On  the  next  day,  the  Saratoga  hoisted  Eng- 
lish colors,  and  came  along  side  a  ship  which  had  two  brigs  in 
company;  then  running  up  the  American  ensign,  she  poured  in  a 
broad  side,  while  Lieutenant  Barney,  with  fifty  men,  boarded  the 
enemy.  The  immediate  result  was,  the  conquest  of  a  ship  of  thirty- 
two  guns  and  ninety  men.  The  two  brigs,  one  of  fourteen,  and 
the  other  of  four  guns,  were  also  captured.  The  division  of  prize 
money  would  have  made  the  officers  rich,  but  no  division  took 
place,  for  all  but  the  Saratoga  were  captured  by  a  seventy-four 
and  several  frigates.  Lieutenant  Barney  was  furnished  with  bed 
and  board,  on  deck,  and,  with  him,  bed  and  board  were  synony- 
mous terms,  but  he  was  allowed  to  choose  the  softest  plank  he 
could  find.  In  England  he  was  confined  in  prison,  from  which  he 
escaped,  and,  after  variqps  adventures,  arrived  at  Beverly,  Massa- 
chusetts, and,  as  soon  as  he  landed,  was  offered  the  command  of 
a  privateer  of  twenty  guns.  On  his  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  he 
accepted  the  command  of  one  of  several  vessels,  cruising  against 
the  enemies'  barges,  and  the  refugee  boats,  that  infested  the 
Delaware  River  and  Bay.  His  ship  was  the  Hyder  Ally,  a  small 
vessel  of  sixteen  six-pounders.  As  a  superior  vessel  of  the  enemy 
was  approaching,  Barney  directed  his  steersman  to  interpret  his 
command  by  the-n//t  of  contraries. 

When  the  enemy  were  ranging  alongside,  Barney  cried  out, 
"  Hard  a-port."  The  helmsman  clapped  his  helm  the  other  way, 
and  the  enemy's  jib-boom  caught  in  the  fore  rigging,  and  held  her 


370  COMMODORE    BARNEY. 

in  a  position  to  be  raked,  and  never  was  the  operation  of  raking 
more  suddenly  or  effectually  performed.  The  British  flag  came 
down  in  less  than  half  an  hour,  and  the  captors  made  little  delay 
for  compliments,  for  a  frigate  from  the  enemy  was  rapidly  ap- 
proaching. The  prize  was  the  general  Marie,  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
with  twenty  nine  pounders,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  men; 
nearly  double  the  force  and  metal  of  the  captors.  After  the  peace, 
Commodore  Barney  made  a  partial  settlement  in  Kentucky,  and 
became  a  favorite  with  the  old  hunters  of  that  pleasant  land.  He 
was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  Maryland,  and  also 
an  auctioneer.  He  also  engaged  in  commerce,  when  his  business 
led  him  to  Cape  Francois  during  the  insurrection,  and  where  he 
armed  his  crew,  and  fought  his  way,  to  carry  off  some  specie 
wfiich  he  had  secreted  in  barrels  of  coffee. 

On  his  return  he  was  captured  by  a  pirate,  which  called  herself 
an  English  privateer.  Barney,  however,  was  a  bad  prisoner,  and 
with  a  couple  of  his  hands  rose  upon  the  buccaneers  and  captured 
their  ship.  In  this  situation  it  was  no  time  for  Argus  himself  to 
sleep,  with  more  than  an  eye  at  a  time.  The  Commodore  slept 
only  by  day  in  an  armed  chair  on  deck,  with  his  sword  between  his 
legs,  and  pistols  in  his  belt,  while  his  cook  and  boatswain,  well 
armed,  stood  the  watch  at  his  side.  On  another  occasion,  he  was 
captured  in  the  West  Indies,  by  an  English  frigate,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  usual  British  courtesies,  and  he  was  tried  in  Jamaica 
for  piracy,  &c.  It  is  needless  to  say  that,  though  in  an  enemy's 
country,  he  was  acquitted  by' acclamation.  This  accusation  origi- 
nated with  the  commander  of  the  frigate,  who,  however,  prudently 
kept  out  of  sight;  though  an  officer  in  the  same  frigate,  expressed 
at  a  Coffee  House,  a  desire  to  meet  Barney,  without  knowing 
that  he  was  present,  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  to  settle 
accounts  with  the  rascal.  The  rascal  bestowed  upon  the  officer 
the  compliments  that  were  usual  on  such  occasions,  and  tweaked 
that  part  of  his  head  that  is  so  prominent  in  an  elephant. 

We  cannot  follow  the  Commodore  through  his  subsequent  for- 
tunes and  adventures,  but  refer  to  the  book  for  a  more  interesting 
account  of  them.  In  France  he  received  the  hug  fraternal  of  the 
President  of  the  Convention,  and  the  commission  of  Captain  of 
the  highest  grade  in  the  Navy.  He  fitted  out  several  vessels  of 
his  own  to  harass  the  British  trade,  in  which  he  was  very  success- 
ful. He  received  the  command  of  two  frigates,  which  were  al- 
most totally  wrecked  in  a  storm,  though  he  succeeded  in  saving 
them.  In  the  last  war,  his  services  are  more  immediately  in  our 
mernorieg.  The  Memoir  of  Commodore  Barney,  from  which 
these  particulars  are  taken,  is  just  published  by  Gray  andBowen, 
and  it  is  a  valuable  addition  to  our  naval  biography. — Boston 
Courier. 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  371 


NAVAL  BATTLES 

OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

The  depradations  committed  on  American  commerce  in  the 
Mediterranean,  by  the  piratical  corsairs  of  the  Barbary  powers, 
induced  Congress,  in  1794,  to  authorise  the  formation  of  a  naval 
force  for  its  protection.  Four  ships  of  forty-four  guns  each  and 
two  of  thirty-six  were  ordered  to  be  built.  Captain  THOMAS 
TRUXTOX  was  one  of  the  first  six  captains  appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, at  the  organization  of  the  naval  establishment,  in  1794. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the.  Constellation  of  thirty- 
six  guns,  and  ordered  to  protect  the  commerce  of  the  United 
States  in  the  West  Indies  from  the  ravages  of  the  French.  On 
the  ninth  of  February,  1799,  he  captured  the  French  frigate 
Insurgente,  of  which  twenty-nine  of  the  crew  were  killed  and 
forty-four  wounded.  The  Constellation  had  but  one  man  killed 
and  two  wounded. 

In  1800,  the  Constellation  engaged  with  the  French  frigate 
Vengeance  of  fifty-four  guns,  near  Guadaloupe;  but  owing  to 
the  darkness  of  the  night  the  latter  escaped,  after  having  thrice 
struck  her  colors  and  lost  one  hundred  and  sixty  men. 

The  same  year,  the  United  States  frigate  Boston  captured  the 
French  national  corvette  Le  Berceau. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1801,  Captain  Sterrettof  the  United 
States  schooner  Enterprize,  of  twelve  guns,  and  ninety  men,  fell 
in,  off  Malta,  with  a  Tripolitan  cruiser  of  fourteen  guns,  and 
eighty-five  men.  In  this  action  the  Tripolitans  thrice  hauled 
down  her  colors,  and  thrice  perfidiously  renewed  the  conflict. 
Fifty  of  her  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  The  Enterprize  did 
not  lose  a  man.  Captain  Sterrett's  instructions  not  permitting 
him  to  make  a  prize  of  the  cruiser,  he  ordered  her  crew  to  throw 
overboard  all  their  guns  and  powder,  &c,  and  to  go  and  tell  their 
countrymen  the  treatment  they  might  expect- from  a  nation,  deter- 
mined to  pay  tribute  only  in  powder  and  ball.  On  her  arrival  at 
Tripoli,  so  great  was  the  terror  produced,  that  the  sailors  aban- 
doned the  cruisers  then  fitting  out,  and  not  a  man  could  be  pro- 
cured to  navigate  them. 

The  Tripolitan  cruisers  continuing  to  harass  the  vessels  of  the 
U.  States,  Congress  determined,  in  1803,  to  fit  out  a  fleet  that 
should  chastise  their  insolence.  The  squadron  consisted  of  the 
Constitution,  44  guns;  the  Philadelphia,  44;  the  Argus,  18;  the 
Siren.  16;  the  Nautilus,  16;  the  Vixen,  16;  and  the  Enterprize, 
14.  Commodore  Preble  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  this 
squadron,  in  May,  1803,  and  on  the  13th  of  August,  sailed  in 
the  Constitution  for  the  Mediterranean.  Having  adjusted  the 


372  NAVAL    BATTLES 

difficulties  which  had  sprung  up  with  the  emperor  of  Morocco, 
he  turned  his  whole  attention  to  Tripoli.  The  season  was,  how- 
ever, too  tar  advanced  for  active  operations. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  the  Philadelphia,  being,  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  about  five  leagues  to  the  westward  of  Tripoli, 
discovered  a  sail  in  shore,  standing  before  the  wind  to  the  east- 
ward. The  Philadelphia  immediately  gave  chase.  The  sail 
hoisted  Tripolitan  colors,  and  continued  her  course  near  the 
shore.  The  Philadelphia  opened  a  fire  upon  her,  and  continued 
it,  till  half  past  eleven;  when,  being  in  seven  fathoms  water,  and 
finding  her  fire  could  not  prevent  the  vessel  entering  Tripoli,  she 
gave  up  the  pursuit.  In  beating  off,  she  ran  on  a  rock,  not  laid 
down  in  any  chart,  distant  four  and  a  half  miles  from  the  town. 
A  boat  was  immediately  lowered  to  sound.  The  greatest  depth 
of  water  was  found  to  be  astern.  In  order  to  back  her  off,  all 
sails  were  then  laid  aback;  the  top-gallant-sails  loosened;  three 
anchors  thrown  away  from  the  bows;  the  water  in  the  hold  started; 
and  all  the  guns  thrown  ovei  board,  excepting  a  few  abaft  to  de- 
fend the  ship  against  the  attacks  of  the  Tripolitan  gun-boats, 
then  firing  at  her.  All  this,  however,  proved  ineffectual;  as  did 
also  the  attempt  to  lighten  her  forward  by  cutting  away  her  fore- 
mast. The  Philadelphia  had  already  withstood  the  attack  of  the 
numerous  gun-boats  for  four  hours,  when  a  large  reinforcement 
coming  out  of  Tripoli,  and  being  herself  deprived  of  every  means 
of  resistance,  and  defence,  she  was  forced  to  strike,  about  sunset. 
The  Tripolitans  immediataly  took  possession  of  her,  and  made 
prisoners  of  the  officers  and  men,  in  number  three  hundred. 
Forty-eight  hours  afterwards,  the  wind  blowing  in  shore,  the  Tri- 
politans got  the  frigate  off,  and  towed  her  into  the  harbor. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  commodore  Preble  sailed  from 
Malta,  in  company  with  the  Enterprize,  commanded  by  lieutenant 
Stephen  Decatur.  When  the  latter  was  informed  of  the  loss  of 
the  Philadelphia,  he  immediately  formed  a  plan  of  recapturing 
and  destroying  her,  which  he  proposed  to  commodore  Preble.  At 
first  the  commodore  thought  the  projected  enterprise  too  hazar- 
dous; but  at  length  granted  his  consent.  Lieutenant  Decatur 
then  selected  for  the  enterprise  the  ketch  Intrepid,  lately  captured 
by  him.  This  vessel  he  manned  with  seventy  volunteers,  chiefly 
of  his  own  crew;  and  on  the  3d  of  February  sailed  from  Syra- 
cuse, accompanied  by  the  brig  Siren,  lieutenant  Stewart. 

After  a  tempestuous  passage  of  fifteen  days,  the  two  vessels  ar- 
rived off  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  towards  the  close  of  day.  It  was 
determined  that  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Intrepid  should 
enter  the  harbor,  accompanied  by  the  boats  of  the  Siren.  But  a 
change  of  wind  had  separated  the  two  vessels  six  or  eight  miles. 
As  delay  might  prove  fatal,  lieutenant  Decatur  entered  the  har- 
bor alone  about  eight  o'clock.  The  Philadelphia  lay  within  half 
gun  shot  of  the  Bashaw's  castle  and  principal  battery.  On  her 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  373 

starboard  quarter  lay  two  Tripolitan  cruisers  within  two  cables 
iength;  and  on  the  starboard  bow  a  number  of  gun-boats  within 
half  gun-shot.  All  her  guns  were  mounted  and  loaded.  Three 
hours  were,  in  consequence  of  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  consum- 
ed in  passing  three  miles,  when,  being  within  two  hundred  yards 
of  the  Philadelphia,  they  were  hailed  from  her,  and  ordered  to 
anchor  on  peril  of  being  fired  into.  The  pilot  on  board  the 
Intrepid  was  ordered  to  reply,  that  all  their  anchors  were  lost. 
The  Americans  had  advanced  within  fifty  yards  of  the  frigate, 
when  the  wind  died  away  into  a  calm.  Lieutenant  Decatur 
ordered  a  rope  to  be  taken  out  and  fastened  to  the  fore  chains  of 
the  frigate,  which  was  done,  and  the  Intrepid  warped  alongside. 
It  \vas  not  till  then  the  Tripolitans  suspected  them  to  be  an 
enemy;  and  their  confusion  in  consequence. was  great.  As  soon 
as  the  vessels  were  sufficiently  near,  lieutenant  Decatur  sprang  on 
board  the  frigate,  and  was  followed  by  midshipman  Morris.  It 
was  a  minute  before  the  remainder  of  the  crew  succeeded  in 
mounting  after  them.  But  the  Turks,  crowded  together  on  the 
quarter  deck,  were  in  too  great  consternation  to  take  advantage 
of  this  delay.  As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  Americans  gained 
the  deck  they  rushed  upon  the  Tripolitans;  who  were  soon  over- 
powered; and  about  twenty  of  them  were  killed.  After  taking 
possession  of  the  ship,  a  firing  commenced  from  the  Tripolitan 
batteries  and  castle,  and  from  two  corsairs  near  the  frigate;  a 
number  of  launches  were  also  seen  rowing  about  in  the  harbor; 
whereupon  lieutenant  Decatur  resolved  to  remain  in  the  frigate, 
for  there  he  would  be  enabled  to  make  the  best  defence.  But 
perceiving  that  the  launches  kept  at  a  distance,  he  ordered  the 
frigate  to  be  set  on  fire,  which  was  immediately  done,  and  so  ef- 
fectually, that  with  difficulty  was  the  Intrepid  preserved.  A 
favorable  breeze  at  this  moment  sprang  up,  which  soon  carried 
them  out  of  the  harbor.  None  of  the  Americans  were  killed, 
and  only  four  wounded.  For  this  heroic  achievement  lieutenant 
Decatur  \vas  promoted  to  the  rank  of  post  captain.  His  commis- 
sion was  dated  on  the  day  he  destroyed  the  Philadelphia. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  Philadelphia  frigate,  commodore 
Preble  was,  during  the  spring  and  early  part  of  the  summer, 
employed  in  keeping  up  the  blockade  of  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  in 
preparing  for  an  attack  upon  the  town,  and  in  cruising.  A  prize 
that  had  been  taken  was  put  in  commission,  and  called  the  Scourge. 
A  loan  of  six  gun-boats  and  two  bomb-vessels,  completely  fitted 
for  service,  was  obtained  from  the  king  of  Naples.  Permission 
was  also  given  to  take  twelve  or  fifteen  Neapolitans  on  board 
each  boat,  to  serve  under  the  American  flag. 

\Vith  this  addition  to  his  force,  the  commodore,  on  the  21st  of 
July,  joined  the  vessels  off  Tripoli.  The  number  of  men  engag- 
ed in  the  service  amounted  to  one  thousand  and  sixty. 

On  the  Tripolitan  castle  and  batteries,  one  hundred  and  fifteen 

32 


374  NAVAL    BATTLES. 

guns  were  mounted:  fifty-five  of  which  were  pieces  of  heavy 
ordnance;  the  others  long  eighteen  and  twelve  pounders.  In  the 
harbor  were  nineteen  gun-boats,  carrying  each  a  long  brass  eigh- 
teen or  twenty-four  pounder  in  the  bow,  and  two  howitzers  abaft: 
also  two  schooners  of  eight  guns  each,  a  brig  of  ten,  and  two 
galleys,  of  four  guns  each.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  Turkish 
garrison,  and  the  crews  of  the  armed  vessels,  estimated  at  three 
thousand,  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  Arabs  had  been  assembled 
for  the  defen'ce  of  the  city. 

The  weather  prevented  the  squadron  from  approaching  the  city 
until  the  28th,  when  it  anchored  within  two  miles  and  a  half  of 
the  fortifications;  but  the  wind  suddenly  shifting,  and  increasing 
to  a  gale,  the  commodore  was  compelled  to  return.  On  the  3d 
of  August,  he  again  approached  to  within  two  or  three  miles  of 
the  batteries.  Having  observed  that  several  of  the  enemy's  boats 
were  stationed  without  the  reef  of  rocks,  covering  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor,  he  resolved  to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance. 
He  made  signal  for  the  squadron  to  come  within  speaking  dis- 
tance, to  communicate  to  the  several  commanders  his  intention 
of  attacking  the  shipping  and  batteries.  The  gun-boats  and 
bomb-ketches  were  immediately  manned,  and  prepared  for  action. 
The  former  were  arranged  in  two  divisions  of  three  each.  At 
hair  past  one,  the  squadron  stood  in  for  the  batteries.  At  two, 
the  gun-boats  were  cast  off.  At  half  past  two,  signal  was  made 
for  the  bomb-ketches  and  gun-boats  to  advance  and  attack.  At 
three  quarters  past  two,  the  signal  was  given  for  a  general  action. 
It  commenced  by  the  bomb-ketches  throwing  shells  into  the  town. 
A  tremendous  fire  immediately  commenced  from  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries and  vessels,  of  at  least  two  hundred  guns.  It  was  immedi- 
ately returned  by  the  American  squadron,  now  within  musket-shot 
of  the  principal  batteries. 

At  this  moment,  captain  Decatur,  with  the  three  gun-boats  under 
his  command,  attacked  the  enemy's  eastern  division,  consisting  of 
nine  gun-boats.  He  was  soon  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  fire  of 
the  cannon  and  musketry  was  immediately  changed  to  a  desperate 
attack  with  bayonet,  spear,  sabre,  &c.  Captain  De-catur  having 
grappled  a  Tripolitan  boat,  and  boarded  her  with  only  fifteen 
Americans;  in  ten  minutes  her  decks  were  cleared,  and  she  was 
captured.  Three  Americans  were  wounded.  At  this  moment 
captain  Decatur  was  informed  that  the  gun-boat  commanded  by 
his  brother,  had  engaged  and  captured  a  boat  belonging  to  the 
enemy;  but  that  his  brother,  as  he  was  stepping  on  board,  was 
treacherously  shot  by  the  Tripolitan  commander,  who  made  off 
with  his  boat.  Captain  Decatur  immediately  pursued  the  mur- 
derer, who  was  retreating  within  the  lines;  having  succeeded  in 
coming  along  side,  he  boarded  with  only  eleven  men.  A  doubtful 
contest  of  twenty  minutes  ensued.  Decatur  immediately  attacked 
the  Tripolitan  commander,  who  was  armed  with  a  spear  and  cut- 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  375 

lass.  In  parrying  the  Turk's  spear,  Decatur  broke  his  sword 
close  to  the  hilt,  and  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  right  arm  and 
breast;  but  having  seized  the  spear  he  closed;  and,  after  a 
violent  struggle,  both  fell,  Decatur  uppermost.  The  Turk  then 
drew  a  dagger  from  his  belt;  but  Decatur  caught  hold  of  his 
arm,  drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket,  and  shot  him.  While  they 
were  struggling,  the  crew  of  both  vessels  rushed  to  the  assistance 
of  their  commanders.  And  so  desperate  had  the  contest  around 
them  been,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  Decatur  could  extricate 
himself  from  the  killed  and  wounded  that  had  fallen  around  him. 
In  this  affair  an  American  manifested  the  most  heroic  courage 
and  attachment  to  his  commander.  Decatur,  in  the  struggle,  was 
attacked  in  the  rear  by  a  Tripolitan;  who  had  aimed  a  blow  at  his 
head,  which  must  have  proved  fatal,  had  not  this  generous-minded 
tar,  then  dangerously  wounded  and  deprived  of  the  use  of  both  his 
hands,  rushed  between  him  and  the  sabre,  the  stroke  of  which  he 
received  in  his  head  whereby  his  scull  was  fractured.  This  hero, 
however  survived,  and  afterwards  received  a  pension  from  his 
grateful  country.  All  the  Americans  but  four  were  wounded. 
Captain  Decatur  brought  both  his  prizes  safe  to  the  American 
squadron. 

Two  successive  attacks  were  afterwards  made  upon  Tripoli; 
and  the  batteries  effectually  silenced.  The  humiliation  of  this 
barbarous  power  was  of  advantage  to  all  nations.  The  Pope 
made  a  public  declaration,  that,  "the  United  States,  though 
in  their  infancy,  had,  in  this  affair,  done  more  to  humble  the 
anti-christian  barbarians  on  that  coast,  than  all  the  European 
States  had  done  for  a  long  series  of  time."  Sir  Alexander  Ball, 
a  distinguished  commander  in  the  British  navy,  addressed  his 
congratulations  to  commodore  Preble. 

After  the  junction  of  the  two  squadrons,  commodore  Preble 
obtained  leave  to  return  home.  This  he  did  with  the  greater  pleas- 
ure, as  it  would  give  the  command  of  a  frigate  to  captain  Decatur. 
On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  was  received  and  treated 
every  where  with  that  distinguished  attention,  which  he  had  so 
fully  merited.  Congress  voted  him  their  thanks,  and  requested 
the  President  to  present  him  with  an  emblematical  rnedal. 

Our  limits  will  only  allow  us  to  glance  briefly  at  a  few  of  the 
remaining  victories  of  the  American  navy.  A  formal  declaration 
of  war  against  Great  Britain  was  passed  by  Congress  on  the  18th 
of  June,  1812.  On  the  19th  of  August  the  memorable  capture 
of  the  British  frigate  Guerriere  by  the  Constitution  under  captain 
Hull,  took  place.  On  the  18th  of  October  the  British  sloop  of 
war  Frolic  was  taken  by  the  Wasp,  commanded  by  captain  Jacob 
Jones;  before  the  latter  could  escape,  however,  with  her  prize, 
being  in  a  very  disabled  state,  she  was  captured  by  the  British 
seventy-four,  Poictiers.  On  the  25th  of  October,  the  United 
States  under  commodore  Decatur,  fell  in  with  and  captured,  off 


376  NAVAL    BATTLES. 

the  Western  Isles  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  mounting 
forty-nine  guns  and  carrying  three  nundred  and  six  men.  The 
Macedonian  had  one  hundred  and  six  men  killed  and  wounded: 
the  United  States  five  killed  and  seven  wounded.  The  victory 
of  the  Constitution  over  the  Java  followed;  and  was  succeeded 
by  that  of  the  Hornet,  commanded  by  Captain  Lawrence,  over 
the  Peacock.  The  loss  of  that  brave  officer  in  the  subsequent 
engagement  between  the  Chesapeake  and  the  Shannon,  has  been 
mentioned  in  a  previous  notice  of  his  life.  On  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, 1813,  the  British  brig  Boxer  of  fourteen  guns,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  United  States  brig  Enterprize,  commanded  by 
lieutenant  William  Burrows,  who  fell  in  the  engagement.  We 
must  close  our  notice  of  American  naval  history,  by  a  brief  sketch 
of  some  of  the  most  interesting  cruises  and  engagements. 


CRUISE    OF    THE    WASP. 

On  the  1st  of  May  1814,  the  United  States  sloop  of  war  Wasp, 
of  eighteen  guns  and  one  hundr.ed  and  seventy-three  men,  cap- 
tain Blakely  commander,  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  on  a 
cruise,  and  on  the  28th  of  June,  in  latitude  48.  36,  longitude 
1  1.  15,  after  having  made  several  captures,  she  fell  in  with,  engag- 
ed, and  after  an  action  of  nineteen  minutes,  captured  his  Britan- 
ic  majesty's  sloop  of  war  Reindeer,  William  Manners,  esquire, 
commander.  The  Reindeer  mounted  sixteen  twenty-four  pound 
carronades,  two  long  six  or  nine  pounders,  and  a  shifting  twelve 
pound  carronade,  with  a  complement  on  board  of  one  hundred 
and  eighteen  men.  She  was  literally  cut  to  pieces  in  a  line  with 
her  ports;  her  upper  works,  boats  and  spare  spars  wer %  one 
complete  wreck,  and  a  breeze  springing  up  the  day  after  the  action, 
her  foremast  went  by  the  board;  when  the  prisoners  having  been 
taken  on  board  the  Wasp,  she  was  set  on  fire  and  soon  blew  up. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Reindeer  was  twenty-three  killed  and 
forty-two  wounded,  her  captain  being  among  the  former.  On 
board  the  Wasp  five  were  killed  and  twenty-one  wounded. 
More  than  one  half  of  the  wounded  enemy  were,  in  consequence 
of  the  severity  and  extent  of  their  wounds,  put  on  board  a  Portu- 
guese brig  and  sent  to  England. — The  loss  of  the  Americans, 
although  not  as  severe  as  that  of  the  British,  was  owing,  in  a 
degree,  to  the  proximity  of  the  two  vessels  during  the  action,  and 
the  extreme  smoothness  of  the  sea,  but  chiefly  in  repelling 
boarders. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  the  Wasp  put  into  L'Orient,  France,  after 
capturing  an  additional  number  of  prizes,  where  she  remained 
until  the  27th  of  August,  when  she  again  sailed  on  a  cruise.  On 
the  1st  of  September  she  fell  in  with  the  British  sloop  of  war 
Avon,  of  twenty  guns,  commanded  by  captain  Abuthnot,  and 
after  an  action  of  forty-five  minutes,  compelled  her  to  surrender, 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  377 

her  crew  being  nearly  all  killed  and  wounded.  The  guns  were 
then  ordered  to  be  secured,  and  a  boat  lowered  from  the  Wasp  in 
order  to  take  possession  of  the  prize.  In  the  act  of  lowering  the 
boat,  a  second  enemy's  vessel  was  discovered  astern  and  standing 
towards  the  Wasp.  Captain  Blakely  immediately  ordered  his 
crew  to  their  quarters,  prepared  every  thing  for  action,  and 
awaited  her  coming  up.  In  a  few  minutes  after,  two  additional 
sail  were  discovered  bearing  down  upon  the  Wasp.  Captain 
Blakely  stood  off  with  the.  expectation  of  drawing  the  first  fro  in 
its  companions;  but  in  this  he  was  disappointed.  She  continued 
to  approach  until  she  came  close  toxthe  stern  of  the  Wasp,  when 
she  hauled  by  the  wind,  fired  her  broadside,  (which  injured  the 
Wasp  but  triiling,}  and  retraced  her  steps  to  join  her  consorts. 
Captain  Blakely  was  now  necessitated  to  abandon  the  Avon, 
which  had  by  this  time  become  a  total  wreck,  and  which  soon 
after  sunk,  the  surviving  part  of  her  crew  having  barely  time  to 
escape  to  the  other  enemy's  vessels. 

On  board  the  Avon  forty  were  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  The 
loss  sustained  by  the  Wasp  was  two  killed  and  one  wounded. 

The  Wasp  afterwards  continued  her  cruise,  making  great  hav- 
ock  among  English  merchant  vessels  and  privateers,  destroying 
an  immense  amount  of  the  enemy's  property.  From  the  first  of 
May  until  the  20th  of  September,  she  had  captured  fifteen  vessels, 
most  of  which  she  destroyed. 


HORNET    AND    PENGUIN. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1815,  as  the  Hornet,  commanded  by 
captain  Biddle,  was  about  to  anchor  off  the  north  end  of  the 
island  of  Tristan  d'Acuna,  a  sail  was  seen  to  the  southward; 
which,  at  forty  minutes  past  one,  hoisted  English  colors,  and 
fired  a  gun.  The  Hornet  immediately  luffed  to,  hoisted  an  en- 
sign, and  gave  the  enemy  a  broadside.  A  quick  and  well  directed 
fire  was  kept  up  from  the  Hornet,  the  enemy  gradually  drifting 
nearer,  with  an  intention,  as  captain  Biddle  supposed,  to  board. 
The  enemy's  bowsprit  came  in  between  the  main  and  mizen  rig- 
ging on  the  starboard  side  of  the  Hornet,  giving  him  an  opportu- 
nity to  board,  if  he  had  wished,  but  no  attempt  was  made.  There 
was  a  considerable  swell,  and  as  the  sea  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead, 
the  enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away  her  mizzen  shrouds,  stern 
davits,  and  spanker  booms,  and  hung  upon  her  larboard  quarter. 
At  this  moment  an  officer  called  out  that  they  had  surrendered. 
Captain  Biddle  directed  the  marines  to  stop  firing,  and,  while 
asking  if  they  had  surrendered,  received  a  wound  in  the  neck. 
The  enemy  just  then  got  clear  of  the  Hornet;  and  his  foremast 
and  bowsprit  being  both  gone,  and  perceiving  preparations  to 
give  him  another  broadside,  he  atjain  called  out  that  he  had  sur- 
rendered. It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  Captain  Biddle  could 

32* 


378  NAVAL    BATTLES. 

restain  his  crew  from  firing  into  him  again,  as  it  was  certain  that 
he  had  fired  into  the  Hornet  after  having  surrendered.  From  the 
firing  of  the  first  gun  to  the  last  time  the  enemy  cried  out  that  he 
had  surrendered,  was  exactly  twenty-two  minutes.  The  vessel 
proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Penguin,  of  twenty  guns,  a  remarka- 
bly fine  vessel  of  her  class,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  men; 
twelve  of  them  supernumeraries  from  the  Medway  seventy-four, 
received  on  board  in  consequence  of  their  being  ordered  to  cruise 
for  the  privateer  Young  Wasp. 

The  Penguin  had  fourteen  killed  and  twenty-eight  wounded. 
Among  the  killed  was  captain  Dickenson,  who  fell  at  the  close 
of  the  action.  As  she  was  completely  riddled,  and  so  crippled  as 
to  be  incapable  of  being  secured,  and  being  at  a  great  distance 
from  the  United  States,  Captain  Biddle  ordered  her  to  be  scuttled 
and  sunk. 

The  Hornet  did  not  receive  a  single  round  shot  in  her  hull; 
and  though  much  cut  in  her  sails  and  rigging,  was  soon  made 
ready  for  further  service.  Her  loss  was  one  killed  and  eleven 
wounded. 

ALGERINE    WAR. 

Immediately  after  the  ratification  of  peace  with  great  Britain, 
in  February  1815,  Congress,  in  consequence  of  the  hostile  con- 
duct of  the  regency  of  Algiers,  declared  war  against  that  power. 
A  squadron  was  immediately  fitted  out,  under  the  command  of 
commodore  Decatur,  consisting  of  the  Guerriere,  Constellation, 
and  Macedonian  frigates,  the  Ontario  and  Epervier  sloops  of  war, 
and  the  schooners  Spark,  Spitfire,  Torch,  and  Flambeau.  Anoth- 
er squadron,  under  commodore  Bainbridge,  was  to  follow  this 
armament,  on  the  arrival  of  which,  it  was  understood,  commodore 
Decatur  would  return  to  the  United  States  in  a  single  vessel, 
leaving  the  command  of  the  whole  combined  force  to  commodore 
Bainbridge. 

The  force  under  commodore  Decatur  rendezvoused  at  New 
York,  from  which  port  they  sailed -the  20th  day  of  May,  1815, 
and  arrived  in  the  Bay  of  Gibraltar  in  twenty-five  days,  after 
having  previously  communicated  with  Cadiz  and  Tangier.  In 
the  passage,  the  Spitfire,  Torch,  Firefly,  and  Ontario,  separated 
at  different  times  from  the  squadron  in  gales,  but  all  joined  again 
at  Gibraltar,  with  the  exception  of  the  Firefly,  which  sprung  her 
masts,  and  put  back  to  New  York  to  refit.  Having  learned  at 
Gibraltar  that  the  Algerine  squadron,  which  had  been  out  into  the 
Atlantic,  had  undoubtedly  passed  up  the  straits,  and  that  informa- 
tion of  the  arrival  of  the  American  force  had  been  sent  to  Algiers 
by  persons  in  Gibraltar,  commodore  Decatur  determined  to  pro- 
ceed without  delay  up  the  Mediterranean,  in  the  hope  of  inter- 
cepting the  enemy  before  he  could  return  to  Algiers,  or  gain  a 
neutral  port. 


NAVAL    BATTLES.  379 


The  17th  of  June,  off  Cape  de  Gatt,  he  fell  in  with  and  captur- 
ed the  Algerine  frigate  Mazouda,  in  a  running  fight  of  twenty- 
five  minutes.  After  two  broadsides  the  Algerines  ran  below. 
The  Guerriere  had  four  men  wounded  by  musketry — the  Algerines 
about  thirty  killed,  according  to  the  statement  of  the  prisoners, 
who  amounted  to  four  hundred  and  six.  In  this  affair  the  famous 
Algerine  admiral,  or  Rais,  Hammida,  who  had  long  been  the  ter- 
ror of  this  sea,  was  cut  in  two  by  a  cannon  shot.  On  the  19th 
of  June,  off  cape  Palos,  the  squadron  fell  in  with  and  captured 
an  Algerine  brig  of  twenty-two  guns.  The  brig  was  chased 
close  to  the  shore,  where  she  was  followed  by  the  Epervier,  Spark, 
Torch,  and  Spitfire,  to  whom  she  surrendered,  after  losing  twenty- 
three  men.  Ao  Americans  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The 
captured  brig,  with  most  of  the  prisoners  on  board,  was  sent  into 
Carthagena.  From  cape  Palbs,  the  American  squadron  proceed- 
ed to  Algiers,  where  it  arrived  the  28th  of  June. 

The  treaty  which  captain  Decatur  finally  succeeded  in  negotia- 
ting with  the  Dey,  was  highly  favorable.  The  principal  articles 
were,  that  no  tribute  under  any  pretext  or  in  any  form  whatever, 
should  ever  be  required  by  Algiers  from  the  United  States  of 
America — that  all  Americans  in  slavery  should  be  given  up  with- 
out ransom — that  compensation  should  be  made  for  American 
vessels  captured,  or  property  seized  or  detained  at  Algiers — that 
the  persons  and  property  of  American  citizens  found  on  board  an 
enemy's  vessel  should  be  sacred — that  vessels  of  either  party 
putting  into  port  should  be  supplied  with  provisions  at  market 
price,  and,  if  necessary  to  be  repaired,  should  land  their  cargoes 
without  paying  duty — that  if  a  vessel  belonging  to  either  party 
should  be  cast  on  shore,  she  should  not  be  given  up  to  plunder — 
or  if  attacked  by  an  enemy  within  cannon  shot  of  a  fort,  should 
be  protected,  and  no  enemy  be  permitted  to  follow  her  when  she 
went  to  sea  within  twenty-four  hours.  In  general,  the  rights  of 
Americans  on  the  ocean  and  fknd,  were  fully  provided  for  in  every 
instance,  and  it  was  particularly  stipulated  that  all  citizens  of  the 
United  States  taken  in  war,  should  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war 
are  treated  by  other  nations,  and  not  as  slaves,  but  held  subject 
to  an  exchange  without  ransom.  After  concluding  this  treaty,  so 
highly  honorable  and  advantageous  to  this  country,  the  commis- 
sioners gave  up  the  captured  frigate  and  brig,  to  their  former 
owners. 

Commodore  Decatur  despatched  captain  Lewis  in  the  Eper- 
vier, bearing  the  treaty  to  the  United  States,  and  leaving  Mr. 
Shaler  at  Algiers,  as  consul-general  to  the  Barbary  states,  pro- 
ceeded with  the  rest  of  the  squadron  to  Tunis,  with  the  exception 
of  two  schooners  under  captain  Gamble,  sent  to  convoy  the 
Algerine  vessels  home  from  Carthagena.  Having  obtained  from 
the  bashaw  of  Tunis  a  full  restoration  in  money,  for  certain  out- 
rages which  had  been  sustained  by  American  citizens,  the  squad- 


380 


NAVAL    BATTLES. 


ron  proceeded  to  Tripoli,  where  commodore  Decatur  made  a 
similar  demand  for  a  similar  violation  of  the  treaty  subsisting 
between  the  United  States  and  the  bashaw,  who  had  permitted 
two  American  vessels  to  be  taken  from  under  the  guns  of  his 
castle  by  a  British  sloop  of  war,  and  rei'used  protection  to  an 
American  cruiser  lying  within  his  jurisdiction.  Restitution  of  the 
full  value  of  these  vessels  was  demanded,  and  the  money, 
amounting  to  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  paid  by  the  bashaw 
into  the  hands  of  the  American  consul.  After  the  conclusion  of 
this  affair,  the  American  consular  flag,  which  Mr.  Jones,  the 
consul,  had  struck,  in  consequence  of  the  violation  of  neutrality 
above  mentioned,  was  hoisted  in  the  presence  of  the  .foreign 
agents,  and  saluted  from  the  castle  with  thirty-one  guns.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  satisfaction  thus  obtained,  for  unprovoked  aggres- 
sions, the  commodore  had  the  pleasure  of  obtaining  the  release 
of  ten  captives,  two  Danes,  and  eight  Neapolitans,  the  latter  of 
whom  he  landed  at  Messina. 


View  of  Boston. 

After  touching  at  Messina  and  Naples,  the  squadron  sailed  for 
Carthagena  on  the  31st  of  August,  where  commodore  Decatur 
was  in  expectation  of  meeting  the  relief  squadron,  under  commo- 
dore Bainbridge.  On  joining  that  officer  at  Gibraltar,  he  relin- 
quished his  command,  and  sailed  in  the  Guerriere  for  the  United 
States,  where  he  arrived  on  the  12th  of  November,  1815.  Every 
thing  being  done  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  second  division  of 
the  squadron,  under  commodore  Bainbridge,  that  gallant  officer 
had  no  opportunity  of  distinguishing  himself.  Pursuant  to  his 


THE    AMERICAN    FLAG.  381 

instructions  he  exhibited  this  additional  force  before  Algiers, 
Tunis,  and  Tripoli,  where  they  were  somewhat  surprised  at  the 
appearance  of  the  Independence  seventy-four.  Commodore 
.Bainbridge  sailed  from  Gibraltar  thirty-six  hours  before  the 
Guerriere,  and  arrived  at  Boston  the  loth  of  November. 


THE  AMERICAN  FLAG. 

When  Freedom  from  her  mountain  height, 
Unfurled  her  standard  to  the  air, 

She  tore  the  azure  robe  of  night, 
And  set  the  stars  of  glory  there  ; 

She  mingled  with  the  gorgeous  dyes 

The  milky  baldric  of  the  skies, 

And  striped  its  pure  celestial  white, 

With  streakings  of  the  morning  light; 

Then,  from  his  mansion  in  the  sun, 

She  called  her  eagle-bearer  down, 

And  gave  into  his  mighty  hand 

The  symbol  of  her  chosen  land. 

Majestic  monarch  of  the  cloud, 

Who  rearest  aloft  thy  regal  form, 
To  hear  the  tempest  trumping  loud, 
And  see  the  lightning  lances  driven, 

When  stride  the  warriors  of  the  storm 
And  rolls  the  thunder  drum  of  heaven, — 
Child  of  the  Sun,  to  thee  't  is  given, 
To  guard  the  banner  of  the  free, 
To  hover  in  the  sulphur  smoke, 
To  ward  away  the  battle  stroke, 
And  bid  its  blendings  shine  afar, 
Like  rainbows  on  the  cloud  of  war, 
The  harbinger  of  victory. 

Flag  of  the  brave,  thy  folds  shall  fly, 
The  sign  of  hope  and  triumph,  high. 
When  speaks  the  signal  trumpet-tone, 
And  the  long  line  comes  gleaming  on, 
(Ere  yet  the  life-blood,  warm  and  wet, 
Has  dimmed  the  glistening  bayonet,) 
Each  soldier's  eye  shall  brightly  turn 
To  where  thy  meteor-glories  burn, 
And.  as  his  springing  steps  advance 
Catch  war 'and  vengeance  from  the  glance' 
And.  when  the  cannon-mouthings  loud 
Heave,  in  wild  wreaths,  the  battle  shroud, 
And  gory  sabres  rise  and  fall, 
Like  shoots  of  flame  on  midnight's  pall  • 
There  shall  thy  victor  glances  glow. 

And  cowering  foes  shall  sink  beneath 
Each  gallant  arm  that  strikes  below         — 

That  lovely  messenger  of  death. 


332  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

Flag  of  the  seas,  on  ocean's  wave 
Thy  stars  shall  glitter  o'er  the  brave, 
When  death,  careering  on  the  gale. 
Sweeps  darkly  round  the  bellied  sail, 
And  frightened  waves  rush  wildly  back, 
Before  the  broad-side's  reeling  rack, 
The  dying  wanderer  of  the  sea 
Shall  look  at  once  to  heaven  and  thee, 
And  smile  to  see  thy  splendors  fly, 
In  triumph,  o'er  his  closing  eye. 

Flag  of  the  free  hearts'  only  home, 

By  angel-hands  to  valor  given, 
Thy  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 

And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  heaven. 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet ! 

Where  breathes  the  foe,  but  falls  before  us, 
With  freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 

And  Freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us  ? 


CAPTAIN  PARRY'S  FIRST  VOYAGE  OF 
DISCOVERY. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1819,  Lieutenant  Parry  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Hecla,  a  bomb  of  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  tons;  and  the  Griper,  gun  brig,  one 
hundred  and  eighty  tons,  commissioned  by  Lieutenant  Matthew 
Liddon,  was  at  the  same  time  directed  to  put  herself  under  his 
orders.  The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  discover  a  north 
west  passage  into  the  Pacific.  Every  individual  engaged  in  the 
expedition  was  to  receive  double  pay.  They  took  in  provisions 
for  two  years,  and  also  a  supply  of  fresh  meats  and  soups  preserved 
in  tin  cases,  essence  of  malt  and  hops,  and  other  stores  adapted 
to  cold  climates  and  a  long  voyage.  The  ships  were  ballasted 
entirely  with  coals,  and  the  men  were  supplied  with  an  abundance 
of  warm  clothing. 

Captain  Parry  was  to  pass,  if  possible,  through  Lancaster's 
Sound  to  Behring's  Strait.  If  he  succeeded,  he  was  to  proceed 
to  Kamtschatka  and  return  to  England  round  Cape  Horn.  Other 
instructions  were  given,  but  much  was  left  to  his  own  discretion. 
He  sailed  in  the  beginning  of  May,  and  proceeded  up  the  straits 
of  Davis,  where  he  found  the  ice  close  packed.  As  he  was  making 
his  way  towards  the  western  shore,  on  the  25th  of  June,  the  ice 
closed  round  the  ships  and  arrested  their  progress.  Here  the  ice 
was  so  close,  that  the  whales  could  not  descend  in  the  usual  way, 
but  were  obliged  to  go  down  tail  first,  much  to  the  amusement  of 
the  Greenland  sailors.  Their  situation  during  the  28th  was  very 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  383 

unpleasant,  and  would  have  been  dangerous  to  ships  built  in  the 
ordinary  way.  Each  roll  of  the  sea  forced  the  heavy  masses  of 
ice  against  the  rudder  and  counter  with  great  violence;  bjut  being 
so  well  strengthened,  they  escaped  without  damage.  While  in  this 
state,  a  large  white  bear  approached  the  Griper,  attracted  by  the 
smell  of  some  red  herrings,  which  the  men  were  frying  at  the  time. 
They  killed  him,  but  he  sunk  between  the  pieces  of  ice,  and  they 
were  unable  to  obtain  him.  On  the  30th,  the  ice  began  to  slacken  a 
little  about  the  ships,  and  after  two  hour's  heaving,  they  succeeded 
in  moving  the  Hecla  about  her  own  length  to  the  eastward;  and 
the  ice  continuing  open  after  eight  hours'  incessant  labor,  they 
nauled  both  ships  into  open  water. 

Captain  Parry  having  failed  in  his  first  attempt  to  approach  the 
western  shore,  came  to  the  determination  of  trying  to  effect  this 
object,  about  the  latitude  of  mount  Raleigh,  which  forms  one 
side  of  the  narrowest  part  of  Davis's  Strait.  They  kept  on  during 
the  1st  and  2d  of  July,  without  finding  any  opening.  On  the  third 
day,  the  wind  having  shifted  to  the  south-west,  another  large  chain 
of  icebergs  was  seen  to  the  northward.  They  could  find  no  bot- 
tom near  these  icebergs  with  one  hundred  and  ten  fathom  of  line. 
At  four  A.  31.  on  the  4th,  they  came  to  a  quantity  of  loose  ice 
floating  among  the  bergs.  The  breeze  blew  lightly  from  the 
southward,  and  wishing  to  avoid  going  to  the  eastward,  they  push- 
ed the  Hecla  into  the  ice,  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  make  way 
through  it.  But  it  immediately  fell  calm  and  the  ship  becoming 
oerfectly  unmanageable,  was  for  some  time  at  the  mercy  of  the 
swell,  which  drifted  her  fast  towards  the  bergs.  The  Griper's 
signal  was  made  not  to  enter  the  ice,  and  after  two  hours'  hard 
pulling,  they  succeeded  in  getting  the  Hecla  clear  of  the  icebergs, 
which  it  is  very  dangerous  to  approach  whenever  there  is  a  swell. 

The  ice  was  now  so  close  that  they  found  it  impossible  to  pro- 
ceed further  westward;  and  they  made  the  best  way  they  could, 
by  beating  to  the  northward,  until  the  10th,  when  a  thick  fog  came 
on,  which  made  it  necessary  to  use  great  caution  in  sailing  to  avoid 
the  icebergs.  The  reflection  of  light,  however,  is  so  strong  from 
these  vast  bodies  of  ice,  that  in  the  thickest  fog  they  can  be  seen 
at  a  sufficient  distance  to  enable  the  navigator,  if  in  smooth  water, 
to  keep  clear  of  them.  The  people  succeeded  in  killing  a  large 
bear,  which  was  seen  near  them  on  a  piece  of  ice  and  towed  it 
on  board.  These*  animals  sink  immediately  on  being  wounded, 
and  to  secure  them,  it  is  necessary  to  throw  a  rope  over  the  neck, 
at  which  the  Greenland  seamen  are  very  expert.  After  encounter- 
ing many  difficulties  from  the  tenacity  of  the  ice,  on  the  21st 
Captain  Parry  reached  latitude  73°.  As  he  was  unwilling  to  in- 
crease his  distance  from  Lancaster's  Sound,  he  determined  to 
enter  the  ice  here.  He  accordingly  ran  in  among  the  floes,  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  2°2d,  the  ships  were  so  beset,  that  no  open 
water  could  be  seen  from  the  mast-head.  The  weather  being 


384  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

clear  on  the  next  day,  and  a  few  narrow  lanes  of  water  appearing 
to  the  westward,  they  proceeded  to  warp  the  ships  through  the  ice. 
At  eight  P.  M.,  they  had  advanced  four  miles  to  westward,  and 
having  come  to  the  end  of  clear  water,  they  secured  the  ships  in 
a  deep  bight,  or  bay  in  a  floe,  called  by  the  sailors,  natural  dock! 
On  the  next  day,  a  boat  was  sent  to  try  to  find  a  lane  of  clear  water 
leading  to  the  westward.  She  returned  without  success,  and  the 
weather  was  so  foggy,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  she  found  her 
way  back  to  the  ships  by  means  of  muskets  and  other  signals. 

On  Tuesday  27th,  the  clear  water  had  made  so  much  to  the 
westward,  that  a  narrow  neck  of  ice  was  all  that  separated  the  ships 
from  a  large  open  space  in  that  quarter.  The  men  were  just 
ordered  out  to  saw  off  the  neck,  when  the  floes  suddenly  opened, 
and  allowed  the  Griper  to  push  through  under  all  sail.  Although 
they  lost  "no  time  in  attempting  to  get  the  Hecla  through  after  her, 
vet  before  they  could  effect  it,  the  passage  was  completely  blocked 
up  by  a  piece  of  floating  ice,  which  was  drawn  after  the  Griper,  by 
the  eddy  produced  -in  her  motion.  Before  they  could  haul  it  out 
of  the  channel,  the  floes  pressed  together  and  wedged  it  immovea- 
bly,  and  although  the  saws  were  used  with  great  effect,  it  was  not 
until  after  seven  hours'  labor,  that  they  succeeded  in  getting  the 
Hecla  into  the  lanes  of  clear  water,  which  opened  towards  the 
westward.  They  now  .perceived  with  pleasure,  a  pitching  motion 
of  the  vessel,  which,  from  the  closeness  of  the  ice,  does  not  often 
occur  in  those  regions,  as  a  sure  indication  of  an  open  sea.  The 
wind  breezing  up  by  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  ice  had  all  disappear- 
ed, and  the  sea  was  free  from  obstructions  of  any  kind.  Here 
they  found  the  whales  so  numerous,  that  no  less  than  eighty-two 
are  mentioned  in  this  day's  log.  It  is  commonly  thought  by  the 
Greenland  fishermen,  that  the  presence  of  ice  is  necessary  to  in- 
sure the  finding  of  whales;  but  no  ice  was  seen  this  day,  when 
they  were  most  numerous.  At  half  past  five  P.  M.,  the  high  land 
about  Possession  bay  came  insight.  Lancaster's  Sound  was  now 
open  to  the  westward,  and  the  experience  of  a  former  voyage  had 
given  Captain  Parry  reason  to  believe  that  the  two  best  months 
tor  the  navigation  of  those  seas  were  yet  to  come.  This,  together 
with  the  magnificent  view  of  the  lofty  Byaur  Martin  Mountains, 
which  recalled  forcibly  to  his  mind  the  events  of  the  preceding 
year,  animated  him  with  expectation  and  hope.  On  the  31st,  they 
anchored  in  Possession  bay,  and  discovered  a  flag  staff  which  had 
been  erected  on  the  former  expedition.  The  only  animals  found 
here  were  a  fox,  a  raven,  some  ring  plovers,  snow-buntings,  and 
a  wild  bee.  Several  tracks  of  bears  and  reindeers  were  also  seen 
upon  the  moist  ground.  Three  black  whales  were  seen  in  the  bay, 
and  the  crown  bones  of  several  others  were  lying  near  the  beach. 
The  tide  rises  here  about  eight  feet,  and  the  flood  seems  to  come 
from  the  northwest. 

On  the  first  of  August,  Captain  Parry  finding  that  the  Griper 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  385 

coirH  not  keep  up  with  the  Hecla,  determined  to  leave  her.  He 
appointed  the  middle  of  Lancaster  Sound  as  a  place  of  rendezvous, 
and  crowding  all  sail  on  the  Hecla,  he  came  towards  evening  in 
sight  of  the  northern  shore  of  the  sound;  and  the  next  day  had  a 
clear  view  of  both  sides  of  it. 

Having  run  due  west  nearly  out  of  sight  of  the.  Griper,  the 
Hecla  hove  to  for  her  to  come  up  in  longitude  83°  12'  west  from 
Greenwich,  there  being  not  the  slightest  appearance  of  land  to 
the  westward.  The  only  ice  met  consisted  of  a  few  large  bergs, 
much  worn  by  the  washing  of  the  sea.  Whales  were  seen,  and 
the  wind  increased  so  that  the  top-gallant-yards  were  taken  in. 
On  the  4th,  Lieutenant  Beechy  discovered,  from  the  crow's  nest, 
breakers  to  the  northward.  They  sounded,  and  found  bottom 
with  forty-five  fathoms  of  line.  The  Griper  coming  up,  the  vessels 
bore  away  to  the  westward.  The  sea  was  here  so  clear  of  ice, 
that  they  began  to  flatter  themselves,  that  they  had  indeed 
entered  the  Polar  Sea.  Their  vexation  was  therefore  extreme, 
when,  towards  evening,  land  was  seen  ahead.  At  eight  P.  JVJ., 
they  came  to  a  stream  of  ice  extending  several  miles  in  a  direction 
parallel  to  their  course;  and  after  sailing  for  two  hours  along  the 
edge  of  the  ice,  they  found  it  proceeded  from  a  compact  body  of 
floes,  which  completely  cut  off  their  passage.  The  weather  here 
was  calm  and  foggy,  and  the  men  amused  themselves  in  pursu- 
ing white  whales,  which  were  swimming  about  the  ships  in  great 
numbers.  But  these  animals  were  so  wary,  that  they  seldom  suf- 
fered the  boats  to  approach  within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  them, 
without  diving.  They  also  saw  for  the  first  time,  one  or  two 
shoals  of  nar-whales,  called  by  the  sailors  sea-unicorns.  Finding 
that  the  sound  or  strait  was  closed,  excepting  in  one  place  to  the 
southward,  to  this  opening  they  directed  their  course.  They  had 
sailed  but  a  few  hours,  however,  when  it  fell  calm;  and  the 
Griper,  having  spread  both  her  top-masts,  advantage  was  taken  of 
the  calm  weather  to  shift  them.  The  Hecla's  boats  were  at  the 
same  time  employed  in  bringing  aboard  ice  to  be  used  as  water. 
Berge-ice  is  preferred  for  this  purpose,  but  that  of  floes  which  is 
in  fact  the  ice  of  sea  water,  is  also  used.  One  of  the  boats  was 
upset  by  the  fall  of  a  mass  of  ice,  but  fortunately  no  injury  was 
sustained.  A  breeze  Springing  up  from  the  north-north-west,  they 
made  sail  and  stood  to  the  southward.  After  sailing  a  short  time, 
they  .discovered  that  they  were  entering  a  large  inlet  about  ten 
leagues  wide  at  its  mouth,  and  in  the  centre  of  which,  no  land 
could  be  distinguished.  The  western  shore  was  so  encumbered 
with  ice,  that  it  was  impossible  to  sail  near  it.  They  therefore  ran 
along  between  the  ice  and  the  eastern  shore,  where  there  was  a 
broad  channel,  with  the  intention  of  seeking  a  lower  latitude  or  a 
clearer  passage  to  the  westward.  Since  they  had  first  entered 
Lancaster's  Sound,  the  sluggishness  of  the  compasses,  and  the 
irregularity  produced  by  the  attraction  of  the  ship's  iron,  had  been 

33 


886  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

found  to  increase  rapidly  as  they  proceeded  to  the  westward. 
The  irregularity  increased  as  they  advanced  to  the  southward, 
which  rendered  it  not  improbable  that  they  were  approaching  the 
magnetic  pole.  The  compasses  therefore  were  no  longer  tit  for 
the  purposes  of  navigation,  and  the  binacles  were  removed  as 
useless  lumber  into  the  carpenter's  store-room,  where  they  remain- 
ed during  the  rest  of  the  season.  Being  desirous  of  obtaining  all 
the  magnetic  observations  they  were  able,  on  a  spot  which  appear- 
ed so  full  of  interest  in  this  department  of  science,  two  boats  were 
dispatched  from  each  ship  to  the  nearest  eastern  shore,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Beechy  and  Hoppner,  who,  together 
with  Captain  Sabine,  were  directed  to  make  the  necessary  obser- 
vations. As  soon  as  the  boats  returned,  the  ships  hove  to  the 
southward,  along  the  edge  of  the  ice,  and  by  midnight  the  channel 
was  narrowed  to  about  five  miles.  They  could  find  no  soundings; 
the  weather  was  serene  and  the  sun  for  the  second  time  that  sea- 
son just  dipped.below  the  northern  horizon,  and  reappeared  a  few 
moments  after.  They  had  hoped  to  find  a  passage  to  the  south 
of  the  ice,  especially  as  the  inlet  widened  considerably  as  they 
advanced  in  that  direction;  but  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  they 
perceived  that  the  ice  ran  close  in  with  a  point  of  land,  which 
seemed  to  form  the  southern  extremity  of  the  eastern  shore.  The 
prospect  from  the  crow's  nest  began  to  assume  a  very  unpromising 
appearance.  The  whole  western  horizon  from  north  round  to 
south  by  eas*,  being  completely  covered  with  ice,  beyond  which 
no  indication  of  water  was  visible.  Captain  Parry  therefore  de- 
termined, as  the  season  was  fast  advancing,  to  return  immediate- 
ly to  the  northward,  in  the  hope  of  finding  the  channel  between 
Prince  Leopold's  Isles  and  Maxwell  Bay,  more  open  than  when 
they  left  it,  in  which  there  could  be  little  doubt  of  effecting  a 
passage  to  the  westward.  They  had  sailed  to  the  southward  in 
this  inlet  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  Cape  Kater 
being  by  the  observations  in  latitude  71°  53'  30"  longitude  90°  03' 
45".  They  returned  to  the  northward  with  a  light  but  favorable 
breeze.  On  the  10th,  the  weather  was  thick  with  snow,  which 
was  succeeded  by  rain  and  fog.  The  ships  moored  to  a  floe,  but 
when  the  weather  cleared,  they  found  themselves  drifting  with  the 
floe  upon  another  body  of  ice  to  leeward.  They  therefore  cast 
ofTand  beat  to  the  northward,  which  was  very  difficult  to  do,  on 
account  of  the  drift  ice  with  which  the  whole  inlet  was  now  cover- 
ed. Although  several  days  were  thus  passed  in  contending  with 
fogs,  head  winds,  and  all  the  difficulties  of  arctic  navigation,  yet 
neither  officers  nor  crews  lost  health  or  spirits.  They  repined 
not  at  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  their  situation,  but  because 
the  accomplishment  of  their  hopes  was  delayed. 

A  light  southern  breeze  enabled  them  to  steer  towards  Prince 
Leopold's  Isles,  which  they  found  more  encumbered  with  ice  than 
before.  Here  they  saw  a  great  number  of  nar-whales,  lying  with 


CAPTAIN   PARRY.  387 

their  backs  above  the  water  in  the  same  manner  as  the  whale, 
and  frequently  with  their  horns  erect  and  quite  stationary  for 
several  minutes  together.  Three  or  four  miles  to  the  northward, 
they  discovered  an  opening,  having  every  appearance  of  a  harbor, 
with  an  island  near  the  entrance.  It  was  named  Jackson's  Bay. 
The  whole  of  the  14th  was  consumed  in  the  attempt  to  find  an 
opening  in  the  ice,  but  as  it  remained  perfectly  close  and  compact, 
on  the  loth  Captain  Parry  went  on  shore  to  make  observations. 
He  landed  in  one  of  the  numerous  valleys,  which  occur  on  this 
part  of  the  coast,  very  much  resembling  bays,  being  bounded  by 
high  hills,  which  appear  like  bluff  head-lands.  He  ascended  the 
hill  on  the  south  side  of  the  ravine,  which  is  very  steep,  and  cov- 
ered with  detached  blocks  of  lime-stone,  some  of  which  are  con- 
stantly rolling  down,  and  which  afford  a  very  insecure  footing. 
From  the  top  of  the  hill  no  water  could  be  seen  over  the  ice  to  the 
northwest;  and  the  whole  space  comprised  between  the  islands 
and  the  northern  shore,  was  covered  with  a  bright  dazzling  blink. 
It  was  a  satisfaction,  however,  to  find  that  no  land  appeared, 
and  Captain  Parry  was  too  well  aware  of  the  suddenness  with 
which  obstructions,  occasioned  by  the  ice,  are  often  removed,  to 
be  at  all  discouraged  by  present  appearances.  On  the  top  of  this 
hill,  he  deposited  a  bottle  containing  a  short  notice  of  his  visit, 
and  raised  over  it  a  small  mound  of  stones.  The  wind  was  light 
the  next  day,  and  the  ice  being  close,  the  ships  scarcely  changed 
their  position.  Despairing  of  being  able  to  penetrate  westward, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Prince  Leopold  isles,  Captain  Parry  de- 
termined to  stand  towards  the  northern  shore  again,  and  after 
beating  for  some  hours  among  the  drift  ice,  the  ships  got  into  clear 
water  near  the  coast.  They  had  just  light  enough  at  midnight, 
to  see  to  read  and  write  in  the  cabin.  Passing  along  the  shore, 
they  left  the  ice  behind  them,  and  on  the  21st  they  had  nothing 
to  hinder  their  passage  westward,  but  want  of  wind.  But  the 
wind  freshening  soon  after,  all  sail  was  made  to  the  westward, 
where  the  prospect  began  to  wear  a  more  and  more  interesting 
appearance.  It  was  soon  perceived  that  the  land  along  which 
they  were  sailing,  and  which  had  appeared  to  be  continuous  from 
Baffin's  Bay,  began  now  to  trend  much  to  the  northward,  leaving 
an  open  space  between  that  coast,  and  a  distant  land  to  the  west- 
ward, which  appeared  like  an  island,  of  which  the  extremes  to  the 
north  and  south  were  distinctly  visible.  The  latter  was  a  remark- 
able headland,  and  was  named  Cape  Hotham.  They  discovered 
also  several  headlands  on  the  eastern  land;  between  the  northern- 
most of  which  and  the  island  to  the  westward,  there  was  a  chan- 
nel of  more  than  eight  leagues  in  width,  in  which  neither  land  nor 
ice  could  be  seen  from  the  mast  head.  The  arrival  off  this  noble 
channel,  to  which  Captain  Parry  gave  the  name  of  Wellington, 
was  an  event  for  which  they  had  all  been  anxiously  looking;  for 
the  continuity  of  land  to  the  northward,  had  always  been  a  source 


388  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

of  uneasiness  to  them,  from  the  possibility  that  it  might  take  a 
turn  to  the  southward,  and  unite  with  the  coast  of  America. 
Every  one  thought  that  they  were  now  finally  disentangled  from 
the  land,  which  forms  the  western  side  of  Baffin's  Bay;  and  that 
in  fact  they  had  actually  entered  the  Polar  Sea.  Fully  impressed 
with  this  idea,  Captan  Parry  gave  to  this  opening  the  name  of 
Barrow's  Strait. 

Two  thirds  of  the  month  of  August  had  now  elapsed,  and  they 
expected  the  sea  would  remain  navigable  six  weeks  more.  The 
ships  had  suffered  no  injury,  they  had  a  plenty  of  provisions,  the 
crews  were  in  high  health  and  spirits,  and  the  sea  before  them, 
it  not  open,  was  at  least  navigable.  On  the  23d,  a  fresh  breeze 
sprung  up,  and  although  Wellington  channel  was  open  to  the  north- 
ward, Captain  Parry  judged  it  best  to  try  a  large  opening  south  of 
Cornwallis's  Island.  But  their  disappointment  was  extreme,  when 
it  was  suddenly  reported  from  the  crow's  nest,  that  their  passage 
was  obstructed  by  a  body  of  ice.  Lieutenant  Beechy  discovered, 
however,  that  one  part  of  the  barrier  consisted  of  loose  pieces  of 
ice,  and  the  Hecla  being  immediately  pushed  into  this  part  of  it, 
succeeded,  after  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  'boring,'  in  forcing  her 
way  through  the  neck.  The  Griper  followed,  and  they  continued 
their  course  to  the  westward,  having  once  more  a  navigable  sea 
before  them.  At  two  P.  M.  having  reached  longitude  95°  67  min., 
they  came  to  two  extensive  floes,  which  obliged  the  ships  to  tack, 
as  there  was  no  passage  between  them.  They  then  beat  to  the 
northward  in  search  of  a  passage,  but  none  was  found.  After 
several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  force  a  passage,  they  at  last 
succeeded  by  '  boring'  through  several  heavy  streams,  and  at 
midnight  were  enabled  to  pursue  their  course  to  the  westward. 

The  ships  made  very  little  way  this  night,  but  in  the  morning 
they  advanced  with  more  speed,  and  more  land  was  seen  to  the 
westward.  The  space  to  westward  was  now  so  broad,  that  Captain 
Parry  thought  best  to  appoint  a  place  where  the  Griper  could 
find  the  Hecla  in  case  of  separation.  But  about  seven  P.  M., 
this  precaution  was  found  to  have  been  needless,  for  the  ice 
stretched  across  the  strait,  and  barred  the  passage.  Captain 
Parry  now  resolved  to  seek  a  passage  along  the  northern  shore. 
As  the  vessels  were  rounding  the  eastern  side  of  the  island,  Cap- 
tain Sabine  was  despatched  to  make  observations,  and  examine 
the  natural  productions  of  the  shore.  He  reported  that  he  had 
found  the  island  much  more  interesting  than  any  other  parts  of 
the  shores  of  the  Polar  Regions  they  had  yet  visited.  The  re- 
mains of  Esquimaux  habitations  were  found  in  four  different  places. 
Some  of  them  are  described  by  Captain  Sabine,  as  consisting  of 
stones  rudely  placed  in  an  elliptical  form.  They  were  from  seven 
to  ten  feet  in  diameter,  the  flat  sides  of  the  stones  standing  verti- 
cally, and  the  whole  structure  being  similar  to  that  of  the  summer 
huts  of  the  Esquimaux,  which  had  been  seen  the  preceding  year 


CAPTAIX    PARRY.  389 

Attached  to  each  were  smaller  circles  of  about  four  or  five  feet 
in  diameter,  and  from  the  moss  and  sand  which  covered  some  of 
the  lower  stones,  the  whole  encampment  appeared  to  have  been 
deserted  for  several"  years.  The  fogs  now  froze  hard  upon  the 
rigging,  which  made  it  difficult  to  work  the  ship  as  each  rope  was 
increased  to  twice  or  three  times  its  proper  diameter. 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th,  a  very  thick  fog  came  on,  and 
they  sailed  under  such  circumstances  as  have  seldom  occurred  in 
navigation.  Observing  that  the  wind  always  blew  some  hours 
steadily  from  one  quarter,  the  quarter  masters  steered  by  the 
vane  at  the  mast  head,  instead  of  the  compass,  which  was  here  ut- 
terly useless.  At  night  the  ships  made  fast  to  a  floe,  about  six  or 
s  ven  feet  thick,  which  was  covered  with  numerous  pools  of  water, 
all  hard  frozen.  The  officers  amused  themselves  in  skating  upon 
the  pools,  and  the  men  in  sliding,  foot-ball  and  other  games. 
Thus  the  ships  remained  until  the  31st,  when  a  new  expedient 
for  sailing  wras  adopted. 

Before  the  fog  commenced,  and  while  they  were  sailing  on  a 
course,  which  they  knew  to  be  the  right  one,  the  Griper  was 
exactly  astern  of  the  Hecla,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile.  The  quarter  master  stood  aft,  near  the  tafTrail,  and  kept 
her  constantly  astern,  by  which  means  they  were  enabled  to  steer 
a  tolerably  straight  course  to  the  westward.  The  Griper,  on  the 
other  hand,  kept  the  Hecla  right  ahead,  and  thus  they  steered 
one  ship  by  the  other,  for  the  distance  of  ten  miles  out  of  sixteen 
and  a  half,  which  they  traversed  between  one  and  eleven  P.  M. 
The  morning  of  the  first  of  September  brought  a  breeze,  and  with 
it  a  snow  storm,  so  that  they  were  unable  to  shape  their  course 
that  afternoon.  At  one  on  the  2d,  a  star  was  seen,  the  first  that 
had  been  visible  for  more  than  two  months.  The  fog  came  on 
again,  and  there  was  not  wind  enough  to  enable  them  to  keep  the 
ships  under  command.  On  the  morning  of  the  third,  a  northern 
breeze  enabled  them  to  make  considerable  progress,  and  on  the 
4th,  at  nine  P.  M.,  they  crossed  the  meridian  of  110°  west  from 
Greenwich,  in  latitude  74°.  44  min.  20  sec.,  by  which  the  ship's 
company  became  entitled  to  a  reward  of  5000  pounds,  offered  by 
the  king's  order  in  council  "to  such  British  subjects  as  might 
penetrate  so  far  west  within  the  Arctic  circle."  On  the  5th,  they 
found  the  passage  blocked  up  again,  and  as  no  change  seemed 
likely  to  take  place,  they  came  to  anchor  in  a  tolerable  roadstead, 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  northern  shore.  In  the  evening,  Cap- 
tain Sabine  and  some  of  the  other  officers  landed  on  an  island,  to 
which  they  gave  the  name  of  Melville  island.  Here  they  saw 
several  flocks  of  ducks  and  gulls;  tracks  of  the  deer  and  musk  ox 
were  also  observed,  and  some  addition  made  by  the  gentlemen  to 
their  collection  of  marine  insects.  The  bay  of  the  Hecla  and 
Griper,  as  they  called  the  roadstead,  where  the  ships  lay,  was  the 
first  place  in  which  they  had  dropped  anchor  since  leaving  Eng- 

83  * 


390  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

land.  The  flags  were  hoisted  in  honor  of  the  epoch;  the  first  timt 
that  the  eye  of  civilized  man  had  looked  on  that  barren  and  inhos- 
pitable region.  In  the  afternoon  the  ice  was  observed  to  be  in 
motion;  and  the  ship  got  under  way  and  sailed  a  short  distance. 
13ut  finding  no  opening,  the  ships  were  secured  to  a  floe,  which  it 
was  necessary  to  do  Tevery  night,  the  weather  being  too  dark  to 
allow  them  to  keep  under  way.  Captain  Parry,  fearing  that  the 
floes  might  change  their  position,  determined  to  remove  nearer 
the  shore.  Two  large  masses  lay  aground,  and  the  vessels  were 
secured  between  them  and  the  shore.  Parties  went  out  and  re- 
turned with  a  white  hare,  some  fine  ptarmigans,  a  few  snow-bun- 
tings, skulls  of  the  musk  ox,  and  several  reindeer's  horns;  but  they 
were  unable  to  meet  with  either  of  the  two  latter  animals.  Sev- 
eral lumps  of  coal  were  also  picked  up,  and  were  found  to  burn 
with  a  clear  lively  flame,  like  canalcoal,  but  without  splitting 
and  crackling  in  the  same  manner.  At  five  A.  M.,  on  the  10th, 
a  floe  ran  against  the  berg,  within  which  the  Hecla  was  secured 
and  turned  it  round  as  on  a  pivot. 

They  were  now  so  surrounded  with  ice,  that  all  they  could  do 
was  to  attend  carefully  to  the  safety  of  the  ships.  On  the  llth, 
one  of  the  officers  killed  the  first  musk  ox,  that  they  had  yet  been 
able  to  approach. 

The  packed  ice  remained  immoveable,  and  the  '  young  ice' 
rapidly  forming,  farther  progress  was  considered  impracticable 
that  season.  Captain  Parry  thought  it  best  to  run  back  to  the 
bay  of  Hecla  and  Griper  and  to  pass  the  winter  there.  The  sig- 
nal for  weighing  anchor  was  given  on  the  22d,  but  the  cables  had 
become  so  stiff  with  frost,  that  it  was  five  P.  M.  before  the  anchors 
were  brought  on  board;  and  they  did  not  reach  the  anchorage  till 
the  evening  of  the  next  day.  A  proper  place  being  found,  the 
ships  dropped  anchor  on  the  edge  of  the  bay  of  ice  in  the  evening 
of  the  24th;  and  on  the  next  day,  they  commenced  cutting  a  ca- 
nal. Two  parallel  lines  were  marked  out  a  little  more  than  the 
breadth  of  the  ships  apart;  along  these  lines,  a  cut  was  then  made 
with  an  ice  saw,  and  others  again  at  right-angles  with  them,  at 
intervals  of  from  ten  to  twenty  feet.  The  pieces  thus  cut,  were 
again  divided  diagonally,  in  order  to  give  room  for  their  being 
floated  out  of  the  canal.  The  seamen,  who  are  fond  of  doing 
things  in  their  own  way,  took  advantage  of  a  fresh  northerly 
breeze,  by  setting  some  boat's  sails  on  the  pieces  of  ice,  a  con- 
trivance which  saved  both  time  and  labor. 

At  half  past  seven  P.  M.,  they  weighed  anchor,  and  began  to 
warp  up  the  canal;  but  the  wind  blew  so  fresh,  and  the  people 
were  so  much  fatigued,  that  it*  was  midnight  before  they  reached 
the  termination  of  their  first  day's  labor.  All  hands  were  again 
set  to  work  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  when  it  was  proposed  to 
siu'c  the  pieces  of  ice  under  the  floe  instead  of  floating  them  out. 
this  it  was  neuessary  for  souiu  to  stand  «n  the  end  wf'the 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  391 

piece  of  ice,  which  it  was  intended  to  sink,  while  others  hauling 
upon  ropes  attached  to  the  opposite  end,  dragged  the  block  under 
that  part  of  the  floe,  on  which  the  people  stood.  The  officers 
took  the  lead  in  this  employ,  and  were  frequently  up  to  their  knees 
in  water  during  the  day,  with  the  thermometer  generally  at  1^° 
and  never  higher  than  16°.  At  six  P.  M.  the  Griper  was  made 
fast  astern  of  the  Hecla,  and  the  two  ships'  companies,  being 
divided  on  each  bank  of  the  canal,  soon  drew  the  ships  to  the  end 
of  their  second  day's  work.  The  next  day  at  noon,  the  whole 
canal  was  completed  a  length  of  four  thousand  and  eight v- two 
yards  through  ice  seven  inches  thick.  '  The  wintering  ground 
was  called  winter  harbor,  and  the  group,  of  which  the  island  form- 
ed a  part,  was  denominated  Georgian  Islands,  in  honor  of  the 
reigning  soveriegn  of  Great  Britain. 

Having  reached  the  place,  where  they  were  probably  to  pass  nine 
months,  and  three  of  them  in  the  absence  of  the  sun,  Captain 
Parry  was  called  upon  to  act  in  circumstances,  in  which  no  British 
naval  officer  had  ever'ljefore  been  placed.  The  security  of  the 
ships,  the  preservation  of  the  stores,  a  regular  svstem  for  the 
maintenance  of  good  order,  cleanliness,  and  consequently  good 
j^ealth;  amusement  and  employment  for  the  men  were  all  to  be 
attended  to.  Scientific  observations  were  also  to  be  made,  and 
Captain  Sabine  employed  himself  immediately  in  selecting  a  place 
for  an  observatory,  which  was  erected  in  a  convenient  spot,  about 
seven  hundred  yards  to  the  westward  of  the  ships.  The  whole  of 
the  masts  were  dismantled,  except  the  lower  ones  and  the  Hecla's 
main-top-mast;  the  lower  yards  were  lashed  fore  and  at  amid- 
ships, to  support  the  planks  of  the  housing  intended  to  be  erected 
over  the  ships;  and  the  whole  of  this  frame  work  was  afterwards 
roofed  over  with  a  cloth.  This  done,  Captain  Parry's  whole  at- 
tention was  directed  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  officers  and 
men.  The  surgeon  reported  that  not  the  slightest  disposition  to 
scurvy  had  shown  itself  in  either  ship.  In  order  to  preserve  this 
healthy  state  of  the  crew,  arrangements  were  made  for  the  warmth 
and  dryness  of  the  berths  and  bedplaces;  and  finding  that  when 
the  temperature  had  fallen  considerably  below  zero,  the  steam 
from  the  coppers  began  to  condense  into  drops  on  the  beams  and 
the  sides,  they  were  obliged  to  adopt  such  means  for  producing 
a  sufficient  warmth,  combined  with  due  ventilation,  as  might  carry 
off  the  vapor  and  thus  prevent  its  settling  on  any  part  of  the  ship. 
For  this  purpose,  a  large  stone  oven,  cased  with  cast,  iron,  in 
which  all  their  bread  was  baked  in  the  winter,  was  placed  on  the 
main-hatch-way,  and  the  stove  pipe  kd  fore  and  aft  on  one  side 
of  the  lower  deck,  the  smoke  being  thus  carried  up  the  fore  hatch- 
way. On  the  opposite  side  of  the  deck,  an  apparatus  had  been 
attached  to  the  galley-range  for  conveying  a  current  of  heated 
air  between  deofcs.  For  the  preservation  of  health,  a  few  altera- 
tions were  made  in  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  provisions 


332  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

issued.  The  allowance  of  bread  was  reduced  to  two-thirds.  A 
pound  of  preserved  meat,  together  with  a  pint  of  vegetable  or 
concentrated  soup  per  man,  was  substituted  tor  one  pound  of  salt 
beef  weekly;  and  a  small  quantity  of  sour  krout  and  pickles, 
with  as  much  vinegar  as  could  be  used,  was  issued  at  regular  in- 
tervals. They  were  obliged  to  institute  the  most  rigid  economy, 
with  regard  to  their  coals,  as  they  were  unable  to  find  any  on  the 
island,  excepting  a  few  lumps;  and'the  moss  which  grew  in  abun- 
dance was  found  totally  unfit  for  the  purposes  of  fuel. 

Great  attention  was  paid  to  the  clothing  of  the  men,  and  one 
day  in  the  week  was  appointed  for  the  examination  of  the  men's 
shins  and  gums  by  the  medical  gentlemen,  in  order  that  any  slight 
appearance  of  the  scurvy  might  be  at  once  detected  and  checked 
by  timely  and  adequate  means. 

Under  circumstances  of  leisure  and  inactivity,  such  as  they 
were  now  placed  in,  and  with  every  prospect  of  its  continuance, 
Captain  Parry  was  desirous  of  finding  some  amusement -for  the 
men  during  this  long  and  tedious  interval,  ffe  proposed,  there- 
fore, to  get  up  a  play  occasionally  on  board  the  Hecla;  and  his 
proposal  being  readily  seconded  by  the  officers,  Lieutenant 
Beechy  having  been  chosen  manager,  the  performance  was  fixed 
for  the  5th  of  November,  -to  the  great  delight  of  the  ships'  com- 
panies. In  order  still  further  to  promote  good  humor,  and  to  af- 
ford amusing  occupation  during  the  hours  of  constant  darkness, 
they  set  on  foot  a  weekly  newspaper,  which  was  to  be  called  the 
North  Georgia  Gazette  and  Winter  Chronicle,  and  of  which  Cap- 
tain Sabine  undertook  to  be  the  editor,  under  the  promise  of  being 
supported  by  original  contributions  from  the  officers  of  the  two 
ships.  The  meridian  altitude  of  the  sun  was  observed,  for  the 
last  time,  on  the  16th  of  October. 

On  the  26th  the  light  was  sufficient  to  allow  of  reading  and 
writing  in  the  cabins,  from  half  past  nine  till  half  past  two.  The 
rest  of  the  hours  were  spent  by  lamp  light.  It  now  became 
rather  a  painful  experiment  to  touch  any  metallic  substance  in  the 
open  air,  with  the  naked  hand;  the  feeling  produced  by  it  exactly 
resembling  that  occasioned  by  the  opposite  extreme  of  intense 
heat;  and  taking  off  the  skin  from  the  part  affected.  They  found 
it  necessary,  therefore,  to  use  great  caution  in  handling  the  sex- 
tants and  other  instruments;  particularly  the  eye-pieces  of  the 
telescopes,  which,  if  suffered  to  touch  the  face,  occasioned  an 
intense  burning  pain;  but  this  was  easily  remedied  by  covering 
them  over  with  solt  leather.  The  month  of  November  set  in  with 
mild  weather.  The  4th  was  the  last  day  that  the  sun,  independ- 
ently of  refraction,  would  be  seen  above  the  horizon  for  ninety-six 
days;  but  the  weather  was  too  thick  for  making  any  observations. 
On  the  5th,  their  theatre  was  opened,  with  the  representation  of 
Miss  in  her  teens;  which  afforded  the  men  a  gnsat  fund  of 
amusement.  Even  fitting  up  the  theatre  and  taking  it  to  pieces 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  393 

again,  was  a  matter  of  no  small  importance;  as  it  kept  the  men 
employed  a  day  or  two  before  and  after  each  performance,  which 
was  a  considerable  object  gained. 

On  the  llth,  the  thermometer  fell  to  26^  for  the  second  time. 
The  wolves  began  to  approach  the  ships  boldly,  howling  most 
piteously  on  the  beach  near,  and  sometimes  coming  along  side 
the  ships,  when  every  thing  was  quiet  at  night;  but  they  seldom 
saw  more  than  one  or  two  together,  and  therefore  could  form  no 
idea  of  their  number.  The  white  foxes  used  also  to  visit  the 
ships  at  night,  and  one  of  these  was  caught  in  a  trap,  set  under 
the  Griper's  bows. 

The  stars  of  the  second  magnitude  in  Ursa  Major  were  percep- 
tible to  the  naked  eye,  a  little  after  noon  on  the  llth  of  Decem- 
ber, and  the  Aurora  Borealis  appeared  faintly  in  the  southwest 
at  night.  The  cold  continued  to  increase.  About  the  middle  of 
the  month,  a  serious  loss  took  place  in  the  bursting  of  the  bottles 
of  lemon  juice;  in  some  boxes  of  which,  two  thirds  of  the  contents 
were  found  to  be  destroyed.  The  vinegar  also  froze  in  the  same 
manner,  and  lost  much  of  its  acidity,  when  thawed.  A  few  gal- 
lons of  highly  concentrated  vinegar,  congealed  into  a  consistence 
like  honey. 

Theatrical  entertainments  took  place  regularly  once  a  fortnight, 
and  continued  to  prove  a  source  of  infinite  amusement  to  the 
men;  and  more  than  one  or  two  plays  were  performed,  with  the 
thermometer  below  zero,  on  the  stage  on  board  the  Hecla. 

The  North  Georgia  Gazette,  which  we  have  already  mentioned, 
was  a  source  of  great  amusement,  not  only  to  the  contributors, 
but  to  those  who,  from  diffidence  of  their  own  talents,  or  other 
reasons,  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  add  their  mite  to  the  little 
stock  of  literary  composition,  which  was  weekly  demanded,  for 
those  who  declined  to  write  were  not  unwilling  to  read,  and  more 
ready  to  criticise  than  those  who  wielded  the  pen;  but  it  was 
that  good-humored  sort  of  criticism  that  could  not  give  offence. 

On  Christmas  day  the  weather  was  raw  and  cold,  with  a  con- 
siderable snow  drift,  although  the  wind  was  only  moderate  from 
northwest.  Divine  service  wa§  performed  on  board.  The  men's 
usual  proportion  of  fresh  meat  was  increased,  as  also  their  allovv- 
ajjce  of  grog,  and  the  day  passed  with  much  of  the  same  kind  of 
festivity  by  which  it  is  usually  distinguished  at  home. 

On  the  first  of  January  scurvy  made  its  appearance  among 
them.  Mr.  Scallon,  gunner  of  the  BLecla,  had  complained  for 
some  days,  and  the  symptoms  were  now  decidedly  scorbutic.  It 
was  found  to  be  owing  to  the  dampness  of  his  bedding,  and  proper 
measures  were  taken  to  prevent  an  increase  of  the  malady.  By 
raising  mustard  and  cress  in  small  boxes  near  the  cabin  stove, 
they  were  able  to  give  Mr.  Scallon  and  one  or  two  more  patients 
nearly  an  ounce  of  sallad  per  day.  The  vegetables  thus  raised 
were  necessarily  colorless  from  the  privation  of  light;  but  they 


394  CAPTAIN     PARRV 

had  the  same  taste  as  if  raised  in  ordinary  circumstances.  So 
effectual  were  they  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Scallon,  that  he  recovered 
in  less  than  a  fortnight. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  month  they  began  to  look  out  for  the 
sun  from  the  mast  head.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  of  Febru- 
ary, the  weather  being  clear,  a  cross,  consisting  of  the  usual 
vertical  and  horizontal  rays,  was  seen  about  the  moon.  At  twenty 
minutes  before  noon,  the  sun  was  seen  from  the  Hecla's  maintop, 
at  the  height  of  fifty-one  feet  above  the  sea,  being  the  first  time 
it  had  been  seen  for  eighty-four  days,  twelve  days  less  than  its 
actual  stay  below  the  horizon.  There  was  now,  from  eight 
o'clock  till  four,  sufficient  light  for  any  kind  of  work,  and  on  the 
seventh  they  began  to  collect  ballast  for  the  Hecla,  to  make  up 
for  the  expenditure  of  stores. 

The  coldest  part  of  the  year  was  now  approaching;  yet  the  sun 
had  sufficient  power  to  affect  the  thermometer,  which  rose  from — 
40°  to — 35°  when  exposed  to  its  rays.  The  distance  at  which 
sounds  were  heard  in  the  open  air  during  the  continuance  of  this 
intense  cold  was  truly  surprising.  Conversation  carried  on  a  mile 
off  could  be  distinctly  heard.  The  smoke  from  the  sh4ps,  too, 
owing  to  the  difficulty  it  has  to  rise  in  a  low  temperature,  was 
carried  horizontally  to  a  great  distance.  On  the  15th,  the  mer- 
cury sunk  to  55°  below  zero,  which  was  the  most  intense  degree 
of  cold  observed  during  the  winter.  Murcury  was  malleable  in 
this  state  of  the  atmosphere. 

From  this  time  the  temperature  gradually  rose.  The  length 
of  the  days  had  so  much  increased  by  the  26th  of  February,  that 
a  very  sensible  twilight  was  visible  in  the  north. 

For  the  last  three  or  four  days  of  April,  the  snow  on  the  black 
cloth  of  the  housing  had  begun  to  thaw  a  little  during  a  few 
hours  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  on  the  30th  so  rapid  a  change 
took  place  in  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  that  the  ther- 
mometer stood  at  the  freezing,  or,  as  it  may  more  properly  be 
termed  in  this  climate,  the  thawing  point,  being  the  first  time  that 
such  an  event  had  occurred  for  nearly  eight  months,  or  since  the 
9th  of  the  preceding  September. 

This  rapid  change  in  the  weather  revived  their  hopes  of  a 
speedy  departure  from  Melville  Island;  and  they  all  had  sangiwne 
expectations  of  leaving  their  winter  quarters  before  July.  On 
the  1st  of  May,  however  it  blew  a  gale,  and  the  sun  was  seen  at 
midnight  for  the  first  time  that  season.  On  the  6th,  the  people 
began  the  operation  of  cutting  the  ships  out  of  the  harbor;  and 
on  the  17th,  the  ships  were  once  more  afloat.  On  the«21st,  some 
of  the  officers  took  a  walk  inland,  and  were  able  to  fill  a  pint  bat- 
tle with  water  from  a  pool  of  melted  snow,  which  was  the  first 
they  had  seen;  a  proof  of  the  extreme  severity  of  the  climate. 

A  perceptible  change  had  now  taken  place  in  the  ice.  The 
'  upper  surface  was  covered  with  innumerable  pools  of  brackish 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  395 

water,  so  that  the  liberation  of  the  sea  might  be  daily  expected. 
Being  desirous  of  obtaining  as  much  game  as  possible  during  the 
remainder  of  the  time  that  must  be  passed  in  Winter  Harbor, 
Captain  Parry  sent  out  hunting  parties  to  remain  ten  or  twelve 
miles  inland,  with  orders  to  send  whatever  game  they  might  pro- 
cure, to  the  ships,  and  also  to  observe  the  ice  from  the  hill  tops, 
and  report  any  change  that  might  take  place. 

The  dissolution  of  the  ice  continued  daily,  and  on  the  22d,  it 
was  observed  to  be  in  motion  in  the  offing;  setting  to  the  east- 
ward at  the  rate  of  a  mile  an  hour.  The  dissolution  of  the  ice 
of  the  harbor  went  on  so  rapidly,  in  the  early  part  of  July,  that 
they  were  greatly  surprised,  on  the  6th,  in  finding  that  in  several 
of  the  pools  of  water,  on  its  upper  surface,  holes  were  washed 
quite  through  to  the  sea  beneath. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  there  being  a  space  of  clear  water 
for  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  southward,  they  took  advantage 
of  a  northern  breeze  to  run  as  far  as  the  opening  would  permit, 
and  then  dropped  anchor  at  the  edge  of  the  ice,  intending  to 
advance  step  by  step  as  it  separated.  The  ice  across  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor  in  this  spot,  as  well  as  that  in  the  offing,  appeared 
from  the  crow's  nest  quite  continuous  and  unbroken,  with  the 
same  appearance  of  solidity  as  at  midwinter. 

On  the  30th,  the  whole  body  of  the  ice  was  in  motion  toward 
the  southeast,  breaking  away,  for  the  first  time,  from  the  points 
at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor.  This  rendering  it  probable  that  the 
ships  would  soon  be  released,  Captain  Parry  furnished  Lieutenant 
Liddon  with  instructions  for  his  guidance  during  the  coming  sea- 
son of  operations,  and  appointed  places  of  rendezvous  in  case  of 
separation. 

On  the  first  "of  August,  the  harbor  was  clear  of  ice,  and  there 
appeared  to  be  water  in  the  direction  of  their  intended  course. 
At  one  P.  M.,  every  thing  having  been  brought  on  board,  they 
weighed  anchor  and  ran  out  of  Winter  Harbor,  in  which  they 
had  passed  ten  entire  months  of  the  year,  and  a  part  of  the  two 
remaining  ones,  September  and  August. 

After  a  few  tacks,  they  had  the  mortification  to  perceive  that 
the  Griper  sailed  much  worse  than  before,  though  great  pains  had 
been  taken  during  her  re-equipment  to  improve  her  qualities. 
By  midnight  the  Hecla  had  gained  eight  miles  to  windward  of 
her,  and  was  obliged  to  heave  to,  to  avoid  parting  company. 

A  southerly  wind  springing  up  the  next  day,  made  it  probable 
that  the  ice  would  close  in  upon  the  ships,  and  they  therefore 
began  to  look  out  for  a  situation  where  they  might  be  secured  in- 
shore, behind  some  of  the  heavy  grounded  ice.  At  one  o'clock 
they  perceived  that  a  heavy  floe  had  already  closed  completely  in 
with  the  land  at  a  point  a  little  to  the  westward  of  them.  A 
proper  place  having  been  found  for  their  purpose,  the  ships  were 
hauled  in  and  secured,  the  Griper's  bow  resting  on  the  beach,  in 


396  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

order  to  allow  the  Hecla  to  lie  in  security  without  her.  This 
place  was  so  completely  sheltered  from  the  accession  of  the  main 
ice,  that  Captain  Parry  began  to  think  of  taking  the  Griper's 
crew  on  board  the  Hecla,  and  pursuing  the  voyage  in  that  ship 
alone. 

Every  moment's  delay  confirmed  Captain  Parry  in  the  opinion 
that  it  was  expedient  to  attempt  to  penetrate  to  the  southward,  as 
soon  as  the  ice  would  allow  the  ships  to  move  at  all,  rather  than 
persevere  in  pushing  directly  westward.  He  therefore  ordered 
Lieutenant  Liddon  to  run  back  a  certain  distance  eastward  as 
soon  as  he  could,  without  waiting  for  the  Hecla,  should  that 
ship  still  be  detained,  and  to  look  out  for  any  opening  to  the 
southward,  which  might  seem  favorable  to  the  object  in  view,  and 
then  wait  for  the  Hecla. 

On  the  15th,  1  ieutenant  Liddon  was  enabled  to  sail,  in  the 
execution  of  his  orders.  Captain  Parry,  however,  observing  that 
the  Griper  made  little  or  no  way,  hoisted  the  signal  of  recall, 
with  the  intention  of  making  one  more  attempt  to  penetrate  west- 
ward. The  ice  had  so  far  separated  as  to  allow  him  to  sail  a  mile 
and  a  half  along  shore,  when  he  was  again  stopped.  He  was 
fortunate  in  finding  a  tolerably  secure  situation  for  the  Hecla 
within  the  grounded  ice;  but  the  Griper  was  left  by  the  wind  in  a 
place  where,  should  the  ice  press  upon  her,  there  could  be  no 
hope  of  safety.  For  fear  of  the  worst,  Captain  Parry  made 
preparations  to  send  parties  to  assist  the  Griper's  company,  if  the 
wreck  should  become  unavoidable;  but  they  were  shortly  after 
relieved  from  all  anxiety  on  this  account,  by  the  recession  of  the 
ice  from  the^shore,  whereby  the  Griper  was  enabled  to  gain  a  sta- 
tion near  the  Hecla. 

The  ice  to  the  west  and  southwest,  as  seen  frem  their  present 
station,  gave  them  no  reason  to  expect  a  speedy  opening  in  the 
desired  direction.  It  appeared  as  solid  and  compact  as  so  much 
land;  to  which  the  inequalities  of  the  surface  gave  it  no  small 
resemblance.  Captain  Parry,  therefore,  determined  to  defer  the 
attempt  to  try  a  more  southern  latitude  no  longer. 

The  point  at  which  the  ships  were  now  lying,  and  which  is  the 
westernmost  to  which  Arctic  navigation  has  ever  been  carried,  is 
in  latitude  74°  26  min.  25  sec.,  and  longitude  113°  64  min.  43 
sec.  Cape  Dundas  seen  yet  farther  west,  is  in  longitude  113° 
57  min.  35  sec.,  by  which  the  length  of  Melville  island  appears 
to  be  about  an  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles,  and  its  breadth,  at 
the  meridian  of  Winter  Harbor,  from  forty  to  fifty  miles. 

At  nine  P.  M.,  they  were  abreast  of  the  place  where  they  had 
landed  on  the  5th,  and  here  perceived  that  the  ice  closed  with  the 
land  a  little  to  the  eastward.  There  was  no  safety  for  the  ships, 
unless  they  could  get  past  one  of  the  small  points  at  the  embou- 
chure of  a  ravine,  against,  which  a  floe  was  setting  the  smaller 
pieces  of  ice,  and  had  blocked  up  the  passage  before  they  arriv- 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  397 

ed.  After  heaving  two  hours  at  the  halsers,  they  succeeded  in 
getting  through,  and  moored  the  ships  to  some  very  heavy  ground- 
ed ice  near  the  beach.  Hares  were  observed  here,  feeding  on 
the  sides  of  the  cliffs,  and  a  few  ptarmigans  were  seen.  The 
place  where  the  Hecla  was  now  secured,  being  the  only  one  of 
the  kind  which  could  be  found,  was  a  little  harbor,  formed,  as 
usual,  by  the  grounded  ice,  some  of  which  was  fixed  to  the  bot- 
tom in  ten  or  twelve  fathoms.  One  side  of  the  entrance  to  this 
harbor  consisted  of  masses  of  floes,  very  regular  in  their  shape, 
placed  quite  horizontally,  and  broken  off  so  exactly  perpendicular, 
as  to  resemble  a  handsome,  well-built  wharf.  On  the  opposite 
side,  however,  the  masses  to  which  they  looked  for  security  were 
themselves  rather  terrific  objects,  as  they  leaned  over  so  much 
towards  the  ship,  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  their  being  in  the 
act  of  falling  upon  her  deck;  and  as  a  very  trifling  concussion 
often  produces  the  fall  of  much  heavier  masses  of  ice,  when  in 
appearance  very  firmly  fixed  to  the  ground,  Captain  Parry  gave 
orders  that  Jio  guns  should  be  fired  near  the  ship  during  her  con- 
tinuance in  this  situation.  The  Griper  was  of  necessity  made 
fast  near  the  beach,  in  rather  an  exposed  situation,  and  her  rud- 
der unshipped,  in  readiness  for  the  ice  coming  in;  it  remained 
quiet,  however,  though  quite  close,  during  the  day,  the  weather 
being  calm  and  fine. 

In  the  evening  of  the  18th,  some  heavy  pieces  of  grounded 
ice  to  which  the  bow  halser  of  the  Hecla  was  fastened,  fell  off  into 
the  water,  snapping  the  rope  without  injuring  the  ship.  Never- 
theless, as  every  alteration  of  this  kind  must  materially  change 
the  centre  of  gravity  of  the  whole  mass,  it  was  thought  prudent 
to  move  the  Hecla  out  of  her  harbor  to  the  place  where  the  Gri- 
per was  lying,  lest  some  of  the  bergs  should  fall  upon  her  deck 
and  crush  or  sink  her. 

On  the  20th  and  21st,  the  young  ice  formed  to  such  a  degree, 
as  to  cement  together  all  the  loose  ice  about  the  ships;  nor  did  it 
thaw  on  either  of  those  days,  though  the  sun  shone  clearly  upon 
it  for  several  hours.  The  main  body  remained  close  and  firm  in 
every  direction.  The  same  state  of  things  obtained  on  the  22d, 
and  in  the  morning  of  the  23d,  the  young  ice  was  an  inch  and  a 
half  thick.  A  breeze  springing  up  from  the  westward  put  it  in 
motion,  so  that  by  noon  the  ships  were  able  to  warp  out  and 
proceed  eastward.  In  a  short  time,  however,  the  ice  closed  so 
firmly  around  them  that  they  became  wholly  unmanageable,  and 
received  many  blows,  more  severe  than  any  they  had  experienced 
before.  After  having  drifted  with  the  ice  six  miles,  they  were 
made  fast  to  some  grounded  ice. 

The  situation  in  whicr;  ine  snips  were  now  placed,  and  the 
shortness  of  the  remaining  part  of  the  navigable  season,  caused 
great  anxiety.  Judging  from  the  experience  of  1819,  it  was  rea- 
sonable to  conclude  that  about  the  7th  of  September,  was  the 

34 


398  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

limit  beyond  which  the  ships  could  not  keep  the  sea  with  any  de- 
gree of  safety  or  prospect  of  success;  but  being  strongly  impres- 
sed with  the  idea  that  it  was  incumbent  on  him  to  make  every 
possible  effort,  Captain  Parry  determined  to  extend  this  limit  to 
the  14th  of  September,  before  which  date  the  winter  would  have 
set  in.  The  prospect  was  not  very  encouraging,  even  with  this 
extension;  they  had  only  advanced  sixty  miles  this  season,  and 
the  distance  to  Icy  Cape  was  yet  between  eight  and  nine  hundred 
miles,  supposing  them  to  find  a  clear  passage.  The  provisions, 
too,  were  so  far  reduced  in  quantity,  that  by  no  means  could  they 
be  made  to  hold  out  longer  than  till  April,  1822,  and  the  deficien- 
cy of  fuel  was  even  more  apparent.  These  and  other  minor 
considerations,  induced  Captain  Parry  to  ask  the  advice  and 
opinions  of  his  officers  relative  to  the  expediency  of  returning  to 
England.  They  all  agreed  that  any  attempt  to  penetrate  farther 
westward  in  their  present  parallel,  would  be  fruitless,  and  attended 
with  loss  of  time  that  might  be  more  profitably  employed  else- 
where. They  advised  that  the  vessel  should  run  back  along  the 
edge  of  the  ice,  in  order  to  look  for  an  opening  that  might  lead 
toward  the  American  continent,  and  after  a  reasonable  time  spent 
in  the  search,  to  return  to  England.  This  advice  agreeing  with 
his  own  opinions,  Captain  Parry  resolved  to  comply  with  it. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  the  ships  moved  again,  and  found  less  ice 
as  they  advanced,  so  that  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  they 
cleared  the  east  end  of  Melville  Island,  the  navigable  channel 
was  not  less  than  ten  miles  wide.  A  constant  look-out  was  kept 
from  the  crow's  nest  for  an  opening  to  the  south,  but  none  occur- 
red. The  weather  was  hazy,  so  much  so  that  they  were  again 
obliged  to  steer  the  ships  the  one  by  the  other.  As  they  proceed- 
ed, several  islands  hitherto  unknown,  were  discovered,  but  no 
opening  was  seen  in  the  ice.  and  when  they  had,  on  the  30th, 
reached  longitude  90°,  they  became  satisfied  that  there  was  no 
possibility  of  effecting  their  object,  and  Captain  Parry,  therefore, 
conceived  it  to  be  his  duty  to  return  forthwith  to  England,  in 
order  that  no  time  might  be  lost  in  following  up  his  discoveries, 
if  his  government  should  deem  fit  to  do  so. 

The  Hecla  arrived  at  the  Orkney  Islands  on  the  28th  of 
October;  and  the  Griper  on  the  first  of  November.  Thus  did 
they  return  from  a  voyage  of  eighteen  months  duration,  in  good 
health  and  spirits,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man. 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  399 


CAPTAIN  PARRY'S  SECOND  VOYAGE  OF 
DISCOVERY. 

The  discoveries  made  by  the  expedition  under  Captain  Parry 
in  1819-'20,  being  believed  to  afford  a  strong  presumption  of  the 
existence  of  a  JNorthwest  Passage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  the 
British  government  commanded  that  another  attempt  should  be 
made  to  discover  it.  The  Hecla  having  been  found  well  adapted 
to  this  kind  of  service,  the  Fury,  a  ship  of  precisely  the  same 
class,  was  selected  to  accompany  her.  Captain  George  F.  Lyon 
was  appointed  to  command  the  Hecla,  and  Captain  Parry,  whose 
efforts  had  made  him  justly  celebrated,  was  commissioned  to 
command  the  expedition. 

Some  alterations  in  the  interior  arrangements  of  the  vessels, 
such  as  were  suggested  by  the  experience  of  Captain  Parry, 
were  made.  Among  these  was  an  apparatus  for  melting  snow, 
which  was  found  very  useful,  and  was  so  little  in  the  way,  that  it 
could  not  even  be  seen.  Cots  and  hammocks  were  substituted 
for  the  former  bed  places,  and  some  improvements  were  made  in 
the  manner  of  victualling  the  ships. 

In  his  official  instructions,  Captain  Parry  was  directed  to  pro- 
ceed into  Hudson's  Strait,  till  he  should  meet  the  ice,  when  the 
Nautilus  Transport,  which  was  placed  at  his  disposal,  was  to  be 
cleared  of  its  provisions  and  stores.  He  was  then  to  penetrate 
westward,  till  he  should  reach  some  land  which  he  should  be  con- 
vinced was  a  part  of  the  American  continent,  at  some  point  north 
of  Wager  River.  If  he  reached  the  Pacific,  he  was  to  proceed 
to  Kamschatka;  thence  to  Canton  or  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and 
thence  to  England,  by  whatever  route  he  might  deem  most  con- 
venient. 

Accordingly,  in  the  beginning  of  April,  1821,  the  three  vessels 
sailed  from  England.  Nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred  till  they 
met  with  the  ice  in  Davis'  Strait,  where  the  vessels  were  moored 
to  an  iceberg,  and  the  Nautilus  was  unladen.  This  done,  she 
parted  company  on  the  1st  of  July,  and  sailed  for  England,  while 
the  Fury  and  Hecla  stood  toward  the  ice,  which  they  reached  a 
little  before  noon,  and  ran  along  its  edge,  keeping  as  much  to  the 
westward  as  possible. 

On  the  24th,  they  reached  the  Savage  Islands,  and  landed  on 
one  of  them.  They  are  many — all  exhibiting  the  same  appear- 
ance of  utter  sterility.  That  on  which  they  landed  was  from  six 
to  eight  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Here  they 
noticed  the  same  appearances  of  an  Esquimaux  camp  as  had  been 
seen  at  Melville  Island,  with  a  few  pieces  of  fir,  which  proved 
that  the  savages,  in  these  parts,  were  not  in  want  of  wood,  since 


400  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

they  could  afford  to  leave  it  behind  them.     Hares  and  several 
species  of  birds  were  seen  on  this  island. 

As  soon  as  the  exploring  party  returned  on  board,  all  sail  was 
made  to  the  westward,  the  sea  being  now  nearly  free  from  ice 
The  next  day  the  hills  on  the  coast  of  Labrador  were  seen. 
Thus  they  kept  on  till  the  31st,  discovering  islands  as  they  pro- 
ceeded. On  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  an  Esquimaux  oomiak  was 
seen  coming  from  the  shore  of  Salisbury  Island,  under  sail, 
accompanied  by  eight  kayaks.  In  this  boat  were  sixteen  persons, 
of  which  two  were  men,  and  the  rest  women  and  children.  In 
dress  and  personal  appearance,  these  people  did  not  differ  from  the 
Esquimaux  last  seen,  but  their  behavior  was  far  less  offensive. 

On  the  first  of  August,  the  ships  kept  on  westward  between 
Nottingham  Island  and  the  north  shore,  which  is  fringed  with 
small  islands.  This  channel  is  about  twelve  miles  wide.  In  the 
course  of  the  morning,  some  Esquimaux  came  to  the  ships  from 
the  main  land,  bringing  oil,  skin  dresses,  and  walrus's  tusks,  which 
they  exchanged  for  any  trifle  that  was  offered.  They  also  offer- 
ed toys  for  sale,  such  as  models  of  canoes,  weapons,  &,c.  Here, 
for  the  first  time,  the  navigators  saw'  the  dresses  of  the  savages 
lined  with  the  skins  of  birds,  having  the  feathers  inside. 

Having  run  forty  miles  in  the  night  without  seeing  any  ice, 
they  came  the  next  morning  to  a  pack  so  close  as  to  prevent  their 
farther  progress.  The  ships  received  very  heavy  blows,  and  with 
considerable  difficulty  got  clear  of  it.  They  ran  along  the  edge 
several  miles  to  the  northward,  in  search  of  an  opening;  but 
finding  none,  they  stood  back  to  the  southwest,  to  try  what  could 
be  done  in  that  quarter. 

The  expedition  being  now  about  to  enter  upon  ground  hitherto 
unexplored,  it  became  necessary  for  Captain  Parry  to  decide  on 
the  route  he  should  pursue  with  most  advantage;  and  after  mature 
deliberation,  he  came  to  the  resolution  to  attempt  a  direct  passage 
of  the  Frozen  Strait,  though  he  greatly  feared  the  loss  of  time 
that  would  be  the  consequence  of  a  failure. 

After  contending  with  the  ice  for  several  days,  on  the  llth,  the 
ship  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  northern  land,  and  a  party  of  the 
officers  landed  upon  a  small  rock,  or  islet,  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
the  shore. 

Soon  after  the  party  returned  on  board,  a  fresh  gale  from  the 
north  compelled  them  to  make  the  ships  fast  to  the  largest  floe 
near,  in  order  not  to  lose  much  ground.  The  gale  moderated 
about  noon,  and  they  cast  off  from  the  floe  and  made  sail.  They 
made  considerable  progress  till  evening,  when  the  ice  closed 
round  them  again.  After  sunset  on  the  13th,  they  descried  land 
to  the  westward,  which  they  believed  to  be  a  part  of  the  continent. 
Yet  they  continued  closely  beset,  and  on  the  15th  the  Hecla 
drifted  back  with  the  ice,  out  of  sight  of  her  consort.  This  was 
partly  owing  to  the  extraordinary  refraction  upon  the  horizon, 


CAPTAIN   PARKY.  401 

which  apparently  diminished  and  distorted  objects,  at  no  great  dis- 
tance, in  a  wonderful  manner.  On  the  next  day,  however,  the 
Hecla  hove  in  sight,  and  upon  which  the  Fury  set  sail  and  beat 
through  the  channel.  On  the  moining  of  the  17th,  the  weather 
being  too  foggy  to  move,  parties  from  both  ships  went  on  shore, 
to  examine  the  country,  and  to  procure  specimens  of  its  natural 
productions. 

As  soon  as  the  weather  cleared  up,  they  returned  on  board,  and 
sailed  to  the  northeast,  where  alone  they  had  any  chance  of  find- 
ing'an  outlet.  Having  ascertained  the  continuity  of  land  round 
this  inlet,  they  gave  it  the  name  of  Duke  of  York's  Bay.  It  was 
now  certain  that  the  object  of  the  expedition  could  not  be  effected 
in  that  direction;  and  they  therefore  sailed  back,  through  the 
narrow  channel  by  which  they  had  entered,  with  the  intention  of 
seeking  an  opening  farther  north,  without  delay. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  tell  of  every  obstacle,  that  hindered  or 
delayed  the  ships.  They  pursued  their  intended  course  along  the 
shore,  when  the  wind  and  weather  permitted;  and  when  unavoid- 
ably detained,  they  landed.  Among  other  places,  they  landed  at 
Repulse  Bay,  in  latitude  66°  30  min.  and  longitude  86°  30  inin. 
From  all  indications,  the  water  through  which  they  had  been  sail- 
ing, was  the  imperfectly  known  Frozen  Strait;  and  Captain  Parry 
resolved  to  keep  along  the  land  to  the  northward,  and  examine 
every  bend  or  inlet,  which  might  appear  likely  to  afford  a  practi- 
cable passage  to  the  westward. 

Sailing  on  the  23d  along  the  northern  shore  of  Frozen  Strait, 
it  was  observed  that  the  land  appeared  in  one  place  to  consist  of 
islands  only,  behind  which  no  land  was  visible.  This  part  of  the 
coast  appeared  to  Captain  Parry  so  favorable  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  enterprise,  that  he  resolved  to  examine  it  more 
closely.  Having  beat  up  to  the  mouth  of  an  opening  that  seemed 
practicable,  he  found  the  greater  part  of  the  channel  filled  with 
a  body  of  ice,  rendering  examination  in  ships  or  boats  impossible. 
The  only  means,  therefore,  of  exploring  it  were,  to  despatch  a 
party  by  land.  Captain  Lyon  undertook  this  service,  accompa- 
nied by  five  persons,  furnished  with  a  tent  and  four  days'  provision. 
The  ships  were  anchored  to  await  his  return  a  mile  from  the 
shore.  The  flood  tide  came  out  of  this  inlet,  a  circumstance  that 
materially  strengthened  their  hopes  of  success. 

Captain  Lyon  first  landed  on  an  island,  and  then  crossed  a 
strait  to  a  steep  point.  Thence  proceeding  northward  to  a  high 
hill,  he  found  the  strait  continuous,  and  returned  to  the  ships. 
On  this  short  journey,  he  passed  the  remains  of  a  great  many 
Esquimaux  habitations.  The  result  of  Captain  Lyon's  excursion 
was  to  convince  all  concerned,  that  a  communication  existed  here 
between  Frozen  Strait  and  a  sea  to  the  northward  and  eastward 
of  it,  and  Captain  Parry  determined  to  explore  it  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. 

34* 


402  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

After  drifting  about  some  time  in  the  ice,  and  more  than  once 
narrowly  escaping  shipwreck,  measures  were  taken  to  survey 
this  part  of  the  Frozen  Strait;  but  little  knowledge  was  gained  by 
all  their  efforts.  On  the  1st  of  September,  the  prospect  of  get- 
ting northward,  was  by  no  means  encouraging;  and  they  were, 
from  time  to  time,  beset  with  ice,  and  drifted  back.  On  the  3d, 
they  found  that  after  a  laborious  investigation,  which  had  occu- 
pied a  whole  month,  they  had  returned  to  nearly  the  same  spot 
where  they  had  been  on  the  6th  of  August,  near  Southampton 
Island. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  rain  fell,  which  immediately  freezing, 
made  the  decks  and  ropes  as  smooth  as  glass.  For  several  days 
the  thermometer  had  been  below  the  freezing  point,  and  some- 
times as  low  as  20°  at  night,  which  change,  together  with  the 
altered  aspect  of  the  land,  and  the  rapid  formation  of  young  ice 
near  the  shores,  gave  notice  of  the  approach  of  winter.  The 
commencement  of  this  dreary  season  in  these  regions  may, 
indeed,  be  dated  from  the  time  when  the  earth  no  longer  receives 
and  radiates  heat  enough  to  melt  the  snow  which  falls  upon  it. 

On  the  8th,  the  young  ice  on  the  surface  began  to  give  them 
warning  that  the  navigation  of  those  seas  was  nearly  ended  for 
the  season.  When  the  young  ice  has  acquired  the  thickness  of 
half  an  inch,  and  is  of  considerable  extent,  a  ship  must  be  stopped 
by  it,  unless  favored  by  a  strong  and  fair  wind;  and  even  when 
making  progress,  is  not  under  control  of  the  helmsman,  depend- 
ing mostly  on  the  thickness  of  the  ice  on  one  bow  or  the  other. 
Boats  cannot  be  employed  in  such  situations  with  much  effect. 

When  to  these  difficulties  were  added  the  disadvantage  of 
a  temperature  near  zero,  and  twelve  hours  of  daily  darkness, 
Captain  Parry  became  convinced  that  it  was  expedient  to  place 
the  ships  in  the  most  secure  situation  that  could  be  found,  rather 
than  run.the  risk  of  being  permanently  detached  from  the  land  by 
attempting  to  gain  the  continent.  Accordingly,  a  canal  was 
sawed  into  a  harbor  on  the  south  side  of  a  small  island,  to  which 
the  name  of  Winter  Island  was  given,  ajid  the  ships  were  warped 
to  their  winter  stations.  Thus  ended  their  operations  for  the 
season,  after  having  explored  a  portion  of  coast  six  hundred  miles 
in  extent,  one  half  of  which  belonged  to  the  continent  of  America. 

The  arrangements  for  passing  the  winter  comfortably  were 
pretty  much  the  same  as  those  which  had  been  made  at  Melville 
Island,  with  some  improvements,  suggested  by  former  experience. 
The  theatre  was  better  fitted  than  before,  and  a  school  was  estab- 
lished for  the  benefit  of  such  of  the  crews  as  might  wish  to  learn 
to  read  and  write.  The  lower  deck  of  the  Fury  was  fitted  for  a 
church,  and  the  companies  of  both  ships  attended  during  the  win- 
ter. The  men  were  sent  to  walk  on  shore  for  exercise,  whenever 
the  weather  was  favorable;  and  finger-posts  were  erected  in 
various  parts  of  the  island,  to  prevent  them  from  losing  their  way 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  403 

On  the  llth  of  December,  the  weather  being  tolerably  clear, 
stars  of  the  third  magnitude  were  visible  to  the  naked  eye  at  forty 
minutes  past  eight,  and  those  of  the  second  magnitude  till  a  quar- 
ter past  nine,  which  may  give  some  idea  of  the  degree  of  light  at 
this  period.  The  twilight  was,  of  course,  very  long,  and  the 
redness  of  the  sun's  rays  might  be  seen  more  than  three  hours 
after  its  setting. 

On  the  13th,  the  thermometer  fell  to — 31°,  being  the  lowest 
temperature  yet  experienced.  Rising  on  trie  17th  to — 5°,  the 
play  of  The  Poor  Gentleman  was  performed.  On  Christmas  eve 
the  theatre  was  again  put  in  requisition,  and  the  next  day  was 
celebrated  to  the  utmost  extent  their  means  would  allow.  Among 
the  luxuries  of  the  Christmas  dinner  were  a  few  joints  of  English 
roast  beef,  which  had  been  preserved  expressly  for  the  occasion, 
the  first  and  last  ever  eaten  in  Frozen  Strait. 

The  same  occupations,  that  had  employed" them  at  Melville 
Island  served  to  beguile  the  time  this  winter.  Nothing  material 
occurred  till  the  first  of  February,  unless  the  circumstance  of 
seeing  a  white  bear  may  be  accounted  so. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  a  number  of  Esquimaux  were  seen 
coming  toward  the  ships  over  the  ice,  and  the  appearance  of  huts 
was  discovered  on  the  shore  with  a  telescope.  Captains  Parry 
and  Lyon,  with  three  or  four  others,  set  out  to  meet  the  natives 
who  were  slowly  advancing,  to  the  number  of  twenty-five.  As 
the  officers  advanced,  they  stood  still,  awaiting  their  approach. 
They  had  no  arms,  but  carried  only  a  few  strips  of  whalebone, 
which  they  had  brought  for  a  peace-offering,  and  which  the  gentle- 
men immediately  purchased  for  a  few  small  nails  and  beads. 
There  were  several  women  and  children  with  the  party,  and  the 
behavior  of  all  was  quite  peaceable  and  orderly.  They  were  all 
handsomely  dressed  in  deerskins,  and  some  had  double  suits. 

However  quiet  these  savages  were,  they  did  not  exhibit  the 
slightest  signs  of  apprehension  or  distrust.  As  soon  as  some  un- 
derstanding was  established,  the  officers  expressed  a  wish  to  visit 
their  huts,  and  the  Esquimaux  readily  complying,  they  all  set  out 
together.  The  savages  were  greatly  astonished  on  the  way  to 
see  a  large  dog,  belonging  to  the  whites,  fetch  and  carry;  and 
the  children  could  scarcely  contain  their  joy  when  Captain  Lyon 
gave  them  a  stick  to  throw,  and  the  dog  brought  it  back  to  them. 
An  infirm  old  man,  who  supported  himself  with  a  staff,  which  he 
much  needed,  was  left  behind  by  his  companions,  who  took  no 
notice  of  his  infirmities,  but  left  him  to  find  his  way  as  he  might, 
without  reluctance  or  scruple. 

An  intercourse  was  kept  up  between  the  ships  and  the  Esqui- 
maux, as  long  as  the  latter  remained  there,  which  was  until  the 
23d  of  May,  when  they  set  off  with  all  their  goods  and  chattels, 
including  a  parting  gift  from  Captain  Parry. 

The  caulking  of  the  bows  being  now  completed,  the  ships  were 


404  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

released  from  the  ice  by  sawing  round  them;  an  operation  which 
made  them  rise  in  the  water  six  inches  and  a  half,  in  consequence 
of  the  buoyancy  occasioned  by  the  winter's  expenditure. 

An  increased  extent  of  open  water  appearing  in  the  offing, 
Captain  Lyon  again  departed,  accompanied  by  nine  persons,  with 
a  tent,  fuel,  and  provisions  for  twenty  days.  Each  individual  was 
furnished  with  a  light  sledge,  to  draw  his  provision  and  baggage, 
which  might  weigh^ about  an  hundred  pounds.  Their  instructions 
were,  after  gaining  the  continent  to  proceed  along  the  coast  and 
examine  it,  and  to  make  observations  respecting  the  tides  and  the 
natural  productions  of  the  country. 

He  set  out  on  the  8th  of  May,  and  rested  on  the  9th  at  a  low, 
rocky  point,  which  he  called  Point  Belford.  Proceeding  north- 
ward, he  had  given  the  following  names  successively  to  different 
parts  of  the  coast,  viz.  Blake's  Bay,  Adderly's  Bluff,  Palmer 
Bay,  Point  Elizabeth,  and  Cape  William;  when,  finding  his  pro- 
vision and  fuel  half  expended,  he  judged  it  prudent  to  return. 

Flocks  of  birds  now  began  to  give  token  of  returning  summer, 
and,  on  the  25th,  some  Esquimaux,'  who  came  from  an  encamp- 
ment to  the  westward,  reported  having  seen  a  great  rrany  rein- 
deer. Yet  at  the  close  of  May  it  was  matter  of  general  regret 
that  there  was  little  prospect  of  the  departure  of  the  ice,  and  that 
few  indications  of  a  thaw  had  been  observed.  The  navigators 
could  not  fail  to  remember  that  at  Melville  Island,  though  so 
much  farther  north,  the  season  had,  on  the  same  day  two  years 
before,  advanced  full  as  far  as  now  at  Winter  Island.  The  parts 
of  the  land  which  were  most  bare  were  the  smooth,  round  tops  of 
the  hills,  on  some  of  which  were  little  pools  of  water.  There 
were  also,  on  the  low  lands,  a  few  dark,  uncovered  patches,  look- 
ing, in  the  snow,  like  islets  in  the  sea.  Vegetation  seemed 
striving  to  commence,  and  a  few  tufts  of  saxifrage  oppositifolia, 
when  closely  examined,  discovered  some  signs  of  life.  Such  was 
the  state  of  things  on  shore:  upon  the  ice  appearances  were  as 
unpromising.  Except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ships, 
where  from  incessant  trampling,  and  the  deposit  of  various  stores 
upon  the  ice,  some  heat  had  been  absorbed  artificially,  there  was 
no  perceptible  sign  of  dissolution  on  the  upper  surface,  where  six 
or  seven  inches  of  snow  yet  remained  on  every  part.  In  these 
circumstances,  Captain  Parry  resolved  to  try  what  could  be  done 
to  release  the  ships  by  cutting  and  sawing.  Arrangements  were, 
therefore,  made  for  getting  everything  on  board,  and  for  com- 
mencing this  laborious  work. 

The  operation  began  on  the  3d  of  June,  and  was  completed  in 
sixteen  days,  by  severe  and  persevering  labor.  In  the  meanwhile, 
Nature  seemed  unwilling  to  lend  our  mariners  any  aid:  the  disso- 
lution of  the  ice  was  so  slow  as  scarcely  to  be  perceptible. 
However,  it  was  so  weakened  by  the  cut  made,  that  the  first 
pressure  from  without  effected  a  rupture,  so  that  a  favorable 


CAPTAIX    PARRY.  405 

breeze  only  was  neech  d,  to  enable  the  ships  to  put  to  sea.  On 
tin?  -d  of  July,  the  wind,  for  the  iirst  time,  became  fair,  and  the 
ships  sailed. 

Winter  ishind  is  ten  miles  and  a  half  in  length,  from  north-west 
by  north,  to  south-east  by  south,  and  its  average  breadth  from 
eight  to  ten  miles.  It  is  what  seamen  call  rather  low  land;  the 
height  of  the  south-east  point,  which  was  named  Cape  Fisher,  out 
of  respect  to  the  chaplain  and  astronomer,  being  seventy-six  feet, 
and  none  of  the  hills  above  three  times  that  height.  The  outline 
of  the  land  is  smooth,  and  in  the  summer,  when  free  from  snow, 
presents  a  brown  appearance.  Several  miles  of  the1  north-west  end 
of  the  island  are  so  low  and  level,  that,  when  the  snow  lay  thick 
upon  it,  our  travellers  could  only  distinguish  it  from  the  sea  by 
the  absence  of  hummocks  of  ice. 

The  basis  of  the  island  is  gneiss  rock,  much  of  which  is  of  a 
gray  color,  but  in  many  places  also  the  feldspar  is  so  predominant 
as  to  give  a  bright  and  red  appearance  to  the  rocks,  especially 
about  Cape  Fisher,  where  also  some  broad  veins  of  quartz  are 
seen  intersecting  the  gneiss;  and  both  this  and  the  feldspar  are 
very  commonly  accompanied  by  a  green  substance,  which  appear- 
ed to  be  pistacite,  and  which  usually  occurs  as  a  thin  lamina 
adhering  strongly  to  the  others.  In  many  specimens  these  three 
are  united,  the  feldspar  and  quartz  displaying  tolerably  perfect 
crystals.  In  some  of  the  gneiss  small  red  garnets  are  abundant, 
as  also  in  mica-slate.  In  lumps  of  granite,  which  are  found  de- 
tached upon  the  surface,  the  mica  sometimes  occurs  in  white 
plates,  and  in  other  specimens  is  of  a  dirty  brown  color.  There 
are  several  varieties  of  mica-slate,  and  some  of  these  have  a 
brilliant  metallic  appearance,  like  silver;  those  which  are  most 
so,  crumble  very  easily  to  pieces.  The  most  common  stone  next 
to  those  already  mentioned  is  lime,  which  is  principally  schistose, 
and  of  a  white  color.  Many  pieces  of  this  substance,  on  being 
broken,  present  impressions  of  fossil-shells,  and  some  have  also 
brown  waved  lines  running  quite  through  them.  Nodules  of 
flint  occur  in  some  masses  of  lime,  but  they  are  not  common. 
Iron  pyrites  is  found  in  large  lumps  of  black  stone,  tinged  exter- 
nally with  the  oxyde  of  iron:  it  is  here  and  there  met  with  in 
small  perfect  cubes. 

Sailing  northward  along  the  coast,  the  ships  were  soon  stopped 
by  the  ice.  While  they  remained  stationary,  a  party  of  natives 
were  discovered  on  shore,  who  proved  to  be  their  neighbors  of 
Winter  Island.  They  were  cordially  greeted  by  the  officers  and 
seamen  as  old  acquaintances,  and  loaded  with  presents.  On 
leaving  the  ships,  one  of  them  sent  Captain  Parry  a  piece  of  seal 
skin  as  a  present,  without  the  least  prospect  or  expectation  of  a 
retjrn.  We  mention  this  trifling  incident,  merely  because  it  was 
the  first  and  only  undeniable  proof  of  gratitude  observed  among 
these  people. 


406  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

Slowly  and  painfully  our  navigators  pursued  their  course  north- 
ward, always  with  difficulty  and  often  with  great  dangej*.  On  the 
12th  of  the  month,  they  discovered  the  mouth  of  a  considerable 
river,  and  Captain  Parry  went  on  shore  to  examine  it.  The 
water  was  fresh,  and  the  stream  varied  in  breadth  from  four  hun- 
dred yards  to  the  third  of  a  mile.  After  ascending  a  mile  and  a 
half,  the  Captain  heard  the  roar  of  a  waterfall.  At  the  mouth, 
the  banks  of  the  river  were  about  two  hundred  feet  high,  but  here 
they  rose  much  higher,  and  the  water  ran  on  a  more  elevated 
level.  As  Captain  Parry  proceeded  inland,  he  found  the  stream 
rushing  with  great  fury  ov,er  two  small  cataracts.  Then  turning 
a  right  angle  of  the  river,  he  perceived  a  greater  spray,  occasion- 
ed by -a  very  magnificent  fall.  Where  the  stream  begins  its  de- 
scent it  is  contracted  to  the  breadth  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet, 
the  channel  being  worn  in  a  solid  bed  of  gneiss  rock.  After  fall- 
ing about  fifteen  feet,  at  an  angle  of  thirty  degrees,  the  river  is 
again  narrowed  to  forty  yards,  and,  as  if  collecting  its  strength 
for  a  great  effort,  is  precipitated  ninety  feet,  in  one  unbroken 
mass.  A  cloud  of  spray  rises  from  the  cataract,  surmounted  by 
an  uncommonly  vivid  rainbow.  The  basin  which  receives  the 
fall  is  circular  and  about  four  hundred  yards  in  diameter,  rather^ 
wider  than  the  river  immediately  below.  Above  the  cataract,  the 
stream  winds  in  the  most  romantic  manner  imaginable  among  the 
hills,  with  a  smooth  and  unruffled  surface.  To  this  beautiful 
water-course  Captain  Parry  gave  the  name  of  Barrow's  River. 
Its  entrance  is  in  latitude  67°  18'  05",  and  longitude  81°  25'  20". 

The  next  day  large  herds  of  walrusses  were  seen  upon  the 
drift  ice,  and  the  boats  were  sent  to  kill  some  for  the  sake  of  the 
oil.  The  sportsmen  found  them  lying  huddled  together,  piled  upon 
one  another.  They  waited  quietly  to  be  shot,  and  were  not 
greatly  alarmed  even  after  one  or  two  volleys.  They  suffered  the 
people  to  debar-k  on  the  ice  near  them,  but  on  their  near  approach 
displayed  a  somewhat  pugnacious  purpose.  After  they  got  into 
the  water  three  were  struck  with  harpoons  and  killed.  When 
first  wounded,  they  were  quite  furious:  one  of  them  resolutely 
attacked  Captain  Lyon's  boat,  and  injured  it  with  his  tusks. 
Those  which  remained  uninjured  surrounded  the  wounded  animals, 
and  struck  them  with  their  tusks;  whether  to  assist  their  escape, 
or  with  a  hostile  intention,  cannot  be  ascertained.  Two  of  the 
animals  killed  were  females,  and  one  weighed  over  fifteen  hundred 
pounds,  which  was  not  considerd  an  uncommon  bulk.  The 
strength  of  the  walrus  is  very  great.  One  of  them  being  touched 
with  an  oar,  seized  it  with  his  flippers,  and  snapped  it  with  the 
utmost  ease.  Many  of  these  animals  had  young  ones,  which, 
when  assailed,  they  carried  off,  either  between  their  flippers  or 
on  their  backs.  They  were  most  easily  killed  with  musket-balls, 
even  after  being  struck  with  the  harpoon,  as  their  skins  are  so 
tough  as  to  resist  a  whaling  lance. 


^  CAPTAIN    PARRY.  407 

On  the  loth,  the  ships  reached  Igloolik,  for  the  situation  of 
which- \ve  refer  our  readers  to  the  map.  Here  they  found  a  new 
bar.d  of  Esquimaux,  who  proved  to  be  the  acquaintances  and  rela- 
tives of  those  of  Winter  Island.  These  people  dwelt  not  in  snow 
huts,  but  in  tents,  made  of  the  skins  of  the  svalrus  and  seal,  the  for- 
mer shaved  thin  enough  to  allow  the  transmission  of  light.  They 
were  clumsily  made,  and  supported  by  a  kind  of  tent-pole,  con- 
structed by  tving  bones  or  deer's  horns  together.  The  edges  of 
the  tents  were  kept  down  by  placing  stones  upon  them.  To  keep 
the  whole  fabric  erect,  a  thong  was  extended  from  the  top  to  a 
large  stone  at  the  distance  of  a  few  yards.  These  abiding  places 
had  little  appearance  of  affording  comfort  or  convenience. 

From  these  people  Captain  Parry  learned  that  he  had  unques- 
tionably been  coasting  the  continent.  He  then  determined  to 
attempt  to  penetrate  a  large  inlet,  stretching  westward  from 
Igloolik,  which,  at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  was  closed  by  a  fixed 
barrier  of  ice,  and  which  he  named  The  Strait  of  the  Fury  and 
Hecla.  We  shall  not  follow  the  navigators  in  their  arduous  but 
unsuccessful  efforts  to  penetrate  westward  at  this  point,  as  we 
have  already  alloted  more  space  to  their  adventures  than  consists 
with  our  intended  limits.  Suffice  it  to  sav,  that  after  perse- 
vering in  the  attempt  till  the  30th  of  September,  they  found  them- 
selves as  far  from  the  attainment  of  their  object  as  at  first.  The 
cold  weather  then  setting  in,  they  were  compelled  to  lay  the  ships 
up  at  Igloolik. 

One  important  point  was  settled,  however,  beyond  the  possibili- 
ty of  doubt.  Finding  his  researches  ineffectual  by  water,  Cap- 
tain Parry  undertook  to  explore  the  Strait  of  the  Fury  and  Hecla 
by  land.  He  found  it  continuous,  and  pursued  his  journey  far 
enough  to  see  the  open  sea  beyond,  thus  proving  the  existence 
of  a  passage  at  this  point,  though  it  was  then,  and  probably  ever 
will  be,  closed  by  an  insurmountable  barrier  of  ice.  Beside  this 
result  of  his  endeavors,  the  position  of  Cockburn  Island,  and  in- 
deed of  all  the  lands  adjacent  to  Igloolik,  was  ascertained,  and 
correctly  laid  down  on  the  map. 

Beside  the  Esquimaux  found  at  Igloolik,  our  friends  had  the 
society  of  the  savages  of  Winter  Island,  who  rejoined  them 
shortly  after  their  arrival.  We  are  sorry  that  we  cannot  relate 
the  adventures  and  observations  of  this  winter,  as  they  are  ex 
tremely  entertaining;  but  as  they  are  not  important  in  theii 
nature,  we  trust  to  be  excused  for  omitting  them. 

Igloolik  is  a  low  island,  ten  miles  long  and  six  broad,  and 
exhibits  the  same  appearance  of  sterility  as  the  adjacent  con- 
tinent, excepting  in  places  which  have  been  inhabited  by  the 
natives.  There,  the  accumulation  of  animal  substances  has 
produced  a  luxuriant  vegetation.  In  some  parts  there  are  spots 
several  hundred  yards  in  extent,  covered  with  bright  green  moss. 
The  whole  laid  seems  to  be  composed  of  innumerable  fragments 


408  CAPTAIN    PARRT 

of  thin  schistose  limestone,  some  of  which  contain  the  impressions 
of  fossil  remains,  while  others  present  the  cellular  structure 
usually  found  in  madreporite.  The  interior  is  almost  an  entire 
swamp;  but  there  are  rising  grounds,  which,  with  the  remains  of 
Esquimaux  habitations  upon  them,  are  excellent  landmarks. 

East  of  Igloolik  is  a  group  of  small  islands  called  by  Captain 
Parry  Calthorpe  Islands.  Like  almost  all  the  land  in  this  vicinity, 
they  are  low,  but  their  geology  differs  from  that  of  Igloolik,  and 
in  every  respect  resembles  that  of  Winter  Island,  being  composed 
of  gneiss.  Two  of  this  group,  however,  are  high  and  rugged. 
From  the  top  of  one  of  these  there  is  a  good  view  of  the  adjacent 
shares. 

The  entrance  of  the  Strait  of  the  Fury  and  Hecla  is  about 
three  miles  wide,  and  is  formed  by  two  projecting  headlands, 
between  which  the  tide  rushes  with  great  velocity.  The  south 
shore  is  high,  but  of  gradual  ascent,  perfectly  smooth,  and  com- 
posed of  beautifully  variegated  sand-stone.  Beyond  the  entrance 
the  land  is  bold  and  mountainous.  Captain  Parry,  who  it  will  be 
remembered  explored  the  southern  shore  of  the  strait,  states  the 
hills  to  consist  of  gray  gneiss  and  red  granite,  rising,  in  some  in- 
stances, a  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  In  some 
places  he  saw  slate,  and  in  others  sand-stone.  He  has  lei't  no 
positive  data,  by  which  we  may  determine  the  length  of  this 
strait;  but  as  he  was  rather  more  than  a  day  in  accomplishing  the 
distance  on  foot,  by  a  circuitous  route,  we  may  conclude  that  it 
does  not  exceed  fifteen  or  twenty  miles.  From  the  point  where 
his  journey  terminated  he  saw  a  continuous  sea  to  the  westward, 
open  and  unobstructed  save  by  ice  and  by  one  small  island 

There  are  several  islands  in  the  Strait  of  the  Fury  and  Hecla. 
On  one  of  these  (Liddon  Island)  abundance  of  beautifully  veined 
clay  iron-stone  was  found.  The  other  minerals  were  asbestos, 
crystals  of  carbonate  of  lime,  and  a  great  variety  of  sand-stone, 
of  which  the  island  is  formed. 

Amherst  Island  is  flat,  and  the  northern  part  is  formed  of  black 
slate,  with  strong  indications  of  coal.  This  part  of  the  island  is 
utterly  bare  of  vegetation.  In  a  low  cliff  of  black  and  rugged 
slate  there  3  a  beautiful  and  romantic  grotto.  The  water,  oozing 
through  the  sides  and  roof,  has  formed  the  most  brilliant  stalac- 
tites, which  form  a  splendid  contrast  with  the  shady  part  of  the 
ebon  grotto  behind.  The  other  part  of  the  island  is  of  clay  and 
limestone,  on  which  there  is  a  very  scanty  covering  of  shrivelled 
grass  and  moss. 

The  winter  in  Igloolik  was  spent  like  the  preceding  one, 
in  amusements  on  board  ship,  and  intercourse  with  the  Esqui- 
mau x. 

On  the  9th  of  August  the  ships  ran  out  of  their  harbor,  where 
they  had  been  detained  three  hundred  and  nineteen  days.  They 
were  so  embarrassed  by  the  ice,  that  little  use  could  be  made  of 


CAPTAIN    PARRY.  409 

heir  sails;  nevertheless,  by  the  30th  of  the  month  they  passed 
tVinter  Island,  having  heen  carried  three  degrees  by  the  drift  in 
vhich  they  were  beset.  On  the  9th  of  October,  they  made  the 
3rkney  Islands,  and  on  the  10th  reached  Lerwick  in  Shetland, 
vhere  they  were  received  with  many  congratulations  on  their  safe 


•eturu. 


CAPTAIN  PARRY'S  THIRD  VOYAGE  OF 
DISCOVERY. 

The  British  Government  having  resolved  to  fit  out  a  third  ex- 
pedition, under  Captain  Parry,  the  Hecla  and  Fury  were  made 
ready  for  sea,  the  latter  under  the  command  of  Captain  Hoppner, 
and  sailed  from  England  on  the  16th  of  May  1824.  They  were  to 
attempt  the  northwest  passage  at  Prince  Regents  Inlet.  Having 
trussed  the  Atlantic  without  any  material  adventure,  they  made 
:he  bay  of  Lievely  in  Disko  Island  on  the  5th  of  July. 

Sailing  up  Baffin's  Bay,  on  the  17th  the  ships  came  to  the  ice, 
and  after  many  obstructions,  only  penetrated  seventy  miles  to  the 
westward.  Here  they  encountered  a  hard  gale,  and  sustained 
several  shocks  .that  would  have  crushed  any  ship  of  ordinary 
strength.  They  reached  Lancaster's  Sound  on  the  10th  of  Sep- 
tember. The  winds  not  being  favorable,  the  ships  made  small 
progress,  and  on  the  13th  the  crews  had  the  mortification  to  per- 
ceive the  sea  ahead  covered  with  ice,  in  attempting  to  penetrate 
which  they  were  soon  immovably  beset.  Nevertheless,  the 
exertions  of  Captain  Parry  and  his  coadjutor  were  unremitting.  • 

The  officers  landed  at  one  place,  a  little  east  of  Admiralty  Inlet. 
The  vegetation  .w*as,  as  usual  in  those  regions,  very  scanty. 
With  great  exertion  and  extreme  difficulty,  the  expedition  reached 
Port  Bowen  in  Prince  Regent's  Inlet,  on  the  27th,  where,  by  the 
middle  of  October,  'Captain  Parry  deemed  it  advisable  to  lay  up 
the  ships  for  the  winter.  Several  journeys  inland  proved  the 
country  to  be  exceedingly  broken  and  rugged;  so  much  so  that 
the  researches  of  the  explorers  were  of  necessity  confined  to  a 
very  limited  extent. 

About  midnight  on  the  27th  of  January,  a  brilliant  display  of 
the  Aurora  Borealis  was  observed.  It  broke  out  in  a  single 
compact  mass  of  yellow  light,  appearing  but  a  short  distance  above 
the  land.  This  light,  notwithstanding  its  general  continuity, 
sometimes  appeared  to  be  composed  of  numerous  groups  of  rays, 
compressed  laterally,  as  it  were,  into  one,  its  limits  to  right  and 
left  being  well  defined  and  nearly  vertical.  Though  always  very 
brillant,  it  constantly  varied  in  intensity;  and  this  appeared  to  be 


410  CAPTAIN    PARRY. 

produced  by  one  volume  of  light  overlaying  another,  as  we  see  the 
darkness  of  smoke  increase  when  cloud  rolls  over  cloud.  While 
some  of  the  officers  were  admiring  the  exceeding  beauty  of  the 
phenomenon,  they  were  suddenly  astonished  at  seeing  a  brilliant 
ray  shoot  down  from  the  general  mass  between  them  and  the  la  mi, 
thence  distant  three  thousand  yards. 

The  principal  animals  seen  were  bears,  foxes,  hares  and  mice, 
but  no  deer  or  wolves.  These  animals  appeared  but  rarely,  and 
the  same  may  be  said  of  the  feathered  creation.  In  July,  a  canal 
was  sawed  in  the  ice,  and  the  ships  were  towed  to  sea.  Captain 
Parry  hoped  to  sail  over  to  the  western  shore  of  the  inlet,  but  he 
had  only  made  eight  miles  in  the  intended  direction,  when  he  was 
stopped  by  the  ice.  As  no  opening  appeared  in  that  quarter,  he 
determined  to  try  to  cross  more  to  the  northward.  The  ni;>st  he 
gained  was  some  knowledge  of  the  character  of  the  shores. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  the  ships  being  beset  close  to  the  land, 
a  hard  gale  brought  the  ice  close  upon  them.  The  llecla  re- 
ceived no  damage  but  the  breaking  of  two  or  three  hawsers;  but 
the  Fury  was  forced  on  shore.  She  was  heaved  off  again,  with 
little  injury,  but  this  was  but  the  commencement  of  her  misfor- 
tunes. On  the  1st  of  July,  she  was  again  nipped,  and  so 
severely  strained  as  to  leak  a  great  deal.  As  the  tide  fell,  her 
stern,  which  was  aground,  was  lifted  several  feet,  and  the  Hecla 
also  remained  aground.  No  place  was  found  where  the  Fury 
might  be  hove  down  to  repair  the  damage,  as  the  shore  was  every- 
where lined  with  masses  of  grounded  ice.  The  ships  were  again 
made  to  float,  but  it  was  found,  notwithstanding  incessant  laboi 
on  board  the  Fury,  that  four  pumps  constantly  going  could  hardly 
keep  the  water  under.  In  these  circumstances  the  only  harbor 
that  could  be  found  was  formed  by  three  grounded  masses  of  ice, 
within  which  the  water  was  from  three  to  four  fathoms  deep  at 
low  tide. 

On  the  night  of  the  2d,  the  ice  came  in  with,  great  violence, 
and  again  forced  the  Fury  on  shore.  The  strength  and  number 
of  the  Hecla's  hawsers  only  saved  her  from  sharing  the  same 
fate.  In  the  meanwhile  the  crew  of  the  Fury  were  completely 
exhausted  by  labor,  and  their  hands  had  become  so  sore  by  the 
constant  friction  of  the  ropes  that  they  could  no  longer  handle 
them  without  mittens.  In  this  situation  it  was  determined  to  land 
the  stores  and  provisions  of  the  vessel,  in  order  that  she  might 
undergo  a  complete  repair. 

Accordingly  ^anchors  were  carried  to  the  beach,  by  which  the 
grounded  icebergs  that  formed  the  harbor  were  secured  in  their 
position,  thus  enclosing  a  space  just  sufficient  to  admit  both  ships. 
In  this  position  a  great  part  of  the  Fury's  stores  were  landed. 
The  injury  was  found  »to  be  more  severe  than  had  at  first  been 
supposed;  indeed,  it  appeared  that  the  compactness  of  her  fabric 
had  alone  saved  her  from  sinking.  Nevertheless,  no  exertion 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE.  411 

was  spared  to  render  her  seaworthy  again,  though  the  daily  pres- 
sure of  the  ice  was  another,  and  a  very  great  disadvantage. 

In  spite  of  every  effort,,  it  was  found  impossible  to  save  the 
Fury,  and  the  Hecla  was  greatly  endangered  in  the  attempt. 
She  was  compelled  to  leave  the  land  and  drift  about  among  the 
ice,  to  avoid  being  forced  on  shore.  On  returning,  Captain  Parry 
found  that  the  Fury  had  been  driven  farther  on  the  beach  than 
before,  and  nine  feet  of  water  were  in  her  hold.  Her  keel  and 
bottom  were  more  injured  than  ever.  The  .first  glance  satisfied 
Captain  Parry  that  the  vessel  could  never  return  to  England. 
By  and  with  the  advice  of  a  council  of  his  officers,  therefore,  he 
decided  to  leave  her  to  her  fate,  and  as  his  provisions  would  barely 
suffice  for  another  twelvemonth,  to  return  home.  In  pursuance 
of  this  resolution  the  Hecla  reached  Sheerness  on  the  21st  of 
October.  On  the  eastern  shore  of  Prince  Regent's  Inlet  is  Cape 
Kater,  the  most  southern  point  attained  by  the  ships  in  this  ex- 
pedition. It  is  in  latitude  71°,  53'  30,"  and  longitude  90°  03' 
45." 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE. 

The  Alceste  sailed  from  Whampoa  on  the  21st  of  January, 
•4817;  exchanged  friendly  salutes  with  the  guardians  of  the  Bocca 
Tigris;  touched  at  Macao  and  Manilla;  rounded  the  numerous 
clusters  of  rocks  and  shoals  lying  to  the  westward  of  the  Phillip- 
pines,  and  to  the  northwest  of  Borneo;  and  then  shaped  a  course 
for  the  Straits  of  Gaspar,  which  she  entered  soon  after  daylight 
on  the  18th  of  February. 

The  morning  was  fine,  the  wind  fresh  and  favorable,  and  the 
Alceste  moving  rapidly  through  the  water;  every  appearance 
promised  a  rapid  passage  into  the  Java  sea,  for  which  Captain 
Maxwell,  who  had  been  on  board  the  whole  of  the  preceding 
night,  was  steering  the  course  laid  down  in  the  most  approved 
charts,  and  recommended  by  the  sailing  directions  in  his  posses- 
sion, when  the  ship  struck  against  a  sunken  rock,  three  miles 
distant  from  Pulo  Leat,  or  Middle  Island,  and  having  grated  over 
it  for  a  few  seconds,  took  a  slight  heel  to  starboard,  and  became 
immovable.  The  rapidity  of  her  motion,  at  the  instant  of  strik- 
ing, rendered  it  highly  probable  that  she  had  received  serious 
injury;  and  every  doubt  on  this  subject  was  soon  removed  by  the 
appearance  of  her  false  keel  floating  along  side,  and  the  report  of 
the  carpenter,  who  stated  that  the  water  in  the  hold  had  increased 
froiia  two  and  a  half  to  seven  feet,  and  that  it  was  gaining  rapidly 
on  the  pumps 


412  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE. 

The  sails,  which  had  at  first  been  thrown  aback,  were  now 
furled,  and  the  best-bower  anchor  was  dropped,  to  keep  her  fast, 
from  the  apprehension,  if  she  went  off  the  rpck,  of  her  instantly 
sinking.  At  this  alarming  crisis,  not  the  slightest  confusion  or 
irregularity  occurred;  every  necessary  order  was  as  coolly  given, 
and  as  steadily  obeyed,  as  if  nothing  unusual  had  happened; 
every  one  did  his  duty  calmly,  diligently,  and  effectually. 

The  boats  being  hoisted  out,  Lord  Amherst  and  the  gentlemen 
of  his  suite,  within  half  an  hour  of  the  striking  of  the  ship,  were 
in  the  barge,  and  making  for  the  nearest  part  of  the  above  men- 
tioned desert  island.  After  leaving  the  Alceste,  they  saw  more 
accurately  the  dangerous  nature  of  her  situation.  The  rock  on 
which  she  had  struck  was  distinctly  seen  from  the  boat,  extending 
only  a  few  yards  from  her.  Beyond,  the  water  was  dark  and  deep 
for  nearly  half  a  mile;  it  then  became  so  shallow  that  the  beautiful 
but  fatal  coral  was  continually  seen  as  they  approached  the  shore. 
When  about  a  mile  from  Pulo  Leat,  rocks,  covered  by  not  more 
than  from  one  to  three  feet  water,  surrounded  them  on  all  sides. 
The  barge  struck  several  times,  but  was  saved  from  any  serious 
•  accident  by  the  skill  of  Lieutenant  Hoppner,  who  commanded 
her.  After  sailing  or  rowing  for  about  an  hour,  they  gained  what 
had  appeared  from  the  ship  to  be  land  covered  with  wood — but, 
to  their  mortification,  discovered  nothing  but  insulated  masses  of 
granite,  interspersed  with  mangrove  trees  growing  in  the  water. 
Being  now  joined  by  a  cutter,  with  the  servants  of  the  embassy, 
and  a  part  of  the  guard,  they  proceeded  along  shore  in  quest  of 
a  more  convenient  place  for  debarkation.  Several  creeks,  which 
seemed  to  penetrate  inland,  were  in  vain  explored;  they  all  ter- 
minated in  deep  swamps.  Similar  attempts  were  reiterated,  till 
anxiety  to  send  .back  the  boats  determined  his  Excellency  to  land 
on  the  first  rocks  which  should  be  found  sufficiently  large  or  nu- 
merous for  the  reception  of  the  party.  This  intention  was  at 
length  effected  in  a  small  bay,  where  the  rocks  were  so  mingled 
with  the  trees  as  to  afford  firm  hand-hold.  The  boats  were  then 
immediately  despatched  to  assist  in  bringing  on  shore  whatever 
could  be  saved  from  the  wreck.  A  more  convenient  landing-place 
being  subsequently  discovered  near  an  eminence  on  which  an 
encampment  might  be  formed,  the  whole  party  removed  thither, 
leaving  a  marine  behind  to  communicate  with  the  boats  as  they 
successively  approached  the  shore. 

The  heat  of  the  day  as  it  advanced,  and  the  exertions  of  the 
men  in  clearing  the  ground,  for  the  reception  of  persons  and  bag- 
gage, produced  great  thirst,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to  look  for 
water,  of  which  none  had  been  brought  on  shore,  except  a  very 
small  quantity  collected  from  the  dripstones  on  deck.  A  search 
for  this  purpose  was  conducted  in  several  directions  without  suc- 
cess; and,  night  coming  on,  it  was  relinquished  in  hopes  of  better 
fortune  on  the  morrow.  During  the  whole  day,  and  till  a  late 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE.  413 

liour  in  the  evening,  the  boats  were  constantly  employed  conveying 
articles  from  the  wreck,  and  towing  ashore  a  rait  on  which  had 
been  placed  the  baggage,  stores,  and  a  small  supply  of  provisions 
rescued  with  much  labor  and  difficulty,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Captain  Maxwell,  whose  exertions  and  self-possession  were 
most  highly  spoken  of  by  all* his  fellow  sufferers. 

Towards  midnight,  as  the  tide  rose,  the  swell  of  the  sea  lifted 
the  ship  from  the  rock,  and  dashed  her  on  it  again  with  such  vio- 
lence as  to  render  it  necessary  for  the  topmast  to  be  cut  away. 
In  d;>ing  this,  two  men  were  very  severely  bruised. 

The  following  morning  Captain  Maxwell  landed;  and,  after 
consulting  with  Lord  Amherst,  it  was  determined  that  his  .Excel- 
lency, and  the  gentlemen  of  the  embassy,  should  proceed  without 
delay  to  JBatavia  in  the  barge,  with  a  picked  crew,  commanded 
by  the  Junior  Lieutenant,  (Mr.  Hoppner;)  one  of  the  cutters  was 
also  prepared  to  accompany  them,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in 
case  of  attack  or  accident.  The  master  of  the  Alceste  was  sent 
on  board  the  latter  to  navigate  the  boats.  At  this  season  there 
was  no  probability  of  the  passage  to  Batavia  exceeding  sixty  hours, 
the  distance  being  only  one  hundred  and  ninety  seven  miles;  the 
inconvenience  to  which  his  Excellency  would  be  subjected  was} 
consequently,  very  limited  in  duration;  and  much  additional 
expedition  in  the  despatch  of  relief  might  be  expected  from  his 
personal  exertions  at  Batavia.  The  stock  of  liquors  and  provis- 
ions furnished  to  the  boats  was  necessarily  very  small,  and  only 
sufficient  on  very  short  allowance  to  support  existence  for  four  or 
five  days;  only  seven  gallons  of  water  could  be  spared  for  the 
whole  party,  consisting  of  forty-seven  persons;  but  they  were 
fortunately  visited  by  a  heavy  fall  of  rain  on  the  day  after  their 
departure,  which  more  than  supplied  the  place  of  what  had  already 
been  expended. 

The  number  left  behind  was  two  hundred  men  and  boys  and 
one  woman.  The  first  measure  of  Captain  Maxwell,  after  fixing 
a  party  to  dig  a  well  in  a  spot  which  was  judged,  from  a  combina- 
tion of  circumstances,  the  most  likely  to  find  water,  was  to  remove 
our  bivouac  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  where  we  could  breathe  a  cooler 
and  purer  air,  a  place,  in  all  respects,  not  only  better  adapted  to 
the  preservation  of  our  health,  but  to.  our  defence  in  case  of  at- 
tack. A  path  was  cut  upwards,  and  a  party  employed  in  clearing 
away  arid  setting  fire  to  the  underwood  on  the  summit.  This  last 
operation  tended  much  to  free  us  from  myriads  of  ants,  and  of 
snakes,  scorpions,  centipedes,  and  other  reptiles,  which,  in  such 
a  place  and  climate,  generally  abound.  Others  were  employed 
in  removing  upwards  our  small  stock  of  provisionsffcvhich  were 
deposited,  under  a  strict  guard,  in  a  sort  of  natural  magazine, 
formed  by  the  tumbling  together  of  some  huge  masses  of  rock  on 
the  highest  part  of  this  eminence.  On  board  the  wreck  a  party 
was  stationed,  endeavoring  to  gain  any  accession  they  could  to 

35* 


414  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE. 

our  stock  of  provisions  and  arms,  and  to  save  any  public  stores 
that  could  be  found.  There  was  a  communication  for  this  purpose 
between  the  shore  and  the  ship  whenever  the  tide  permitted. 
For  the  last  two  days  every  one  had  experienced  much  misery 
from  thirst;  a  small  cask  of  water  (the  only  one  which  could  be 
obtained  from  the  ship)  was  scarcely  equal  to  a  pint  each  in  the 
course  of  that  period;  and  perhaps  no  question  was  ever  so  anx- 
iously repeated»as,  "What  hope  from  the  well?"  About  eleven 
at  night  the  diggers  had  got,  by  rather  a  tortuous  direction,)  on 
account  of  large  stones,)  as  far  down  as  twenty  feet,  when  they 
came  to  a  clayey  or  marly  soil,  that  above  it  being  a  red  earth, 
which  seemed  rather  moist,  and  had  nothing  saline  in  the  taste. 
At  a  little  past  midnight,  a  bottle  of  muddy  water  was  brought  the 
captain  as  a  specimen;  and,  the  moment  it  was  understood  to  be 
fresh,  the  rush  to  the  well  was  such  as  to  impede  the  workmen; 
therefore  it  became  necessary  to  plant  sentries  to  enable  them  to 
complete  their  task,  and  permit  the  water  to  settle  a  little.  For- 
tunately, about  this  time  a  heavy  shower  of  rain  fell,  and,  by 
spreading  sheets,  tablecloths,  &c.,  and  wringing  them,  some  relief 
was  afforded.  There  are  few  situations  in  which  men,  exposed, 
without  shelter,  to  a  torrent  of  rain  would,  as  in  the  present  in- 
stance, hail  that  circumstance  as  a  blessing;  bathing  in  the  sea 
was  also  resorted  to  by  many  in  order  to  drink  by  absorption,  and 
they  fancied  it  afforded  relief. 

"Thursday,  20th.  This  morning  the  Captain,  ordering  all 
hands  together,  stated  to  them  in  a  few  words,  that  every  man, 
by  the  regulations  of  the  navy,  was  as  liable  to  answer  for  his 
conduct  on  the  present  as  on  any  other  occasion;  that,  as  long 
as  he  lived,  the  same  discipline  should  be  exerted,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, with  greater  rigor  than  on  board;  a  discipline  for  the  gene- 
ral welfare,  which  he  trusted  every  sensible  man  of  the  party  must 
see  the  necessity  of  maintaining;  assuring  them,  at  the  same  time, 
he  would  have  much  pleasure  in  recommending  those  who  dis- 
tinguished themselves  by  the  regularity  and  propriety  of  their 
conduct;  that  the  provisions  we  had  been  able  to  save  should  be 
served  out,  although  necessarily  with  a  very  sparing  hand,  yet 
with  the  most  rigid  equality  to  all  ranks,  until  we  obtained  that 
relief  which  he  trusted  would  soon  follow  the  arrival  of  Lord 
Amherst  at  Java. 

"During  this  day  the  well  afforded  a  pint  of  water  for  each 
man;  it  had  a  sweetish  milk-and-water  taste,  something  like  the 
juice  of  the  cocoa-nut,  but  nobody  found  fault  with  it;  on  the 
contrary,  it  diffused  that  sort  of  happiness  which  only  they  can 
feel  who  havfr  felt  the  horrible  sensation  of  thirst  under  a  vertical 
sun,  subject  at  the  same  time  to  a  harassing  arid  fatiguing  duty. 
This  day  was  employed  in  getting  up  every  tlTing  from  the  foot 
of  the  hill;  boats  passing  to  the  ship;  but,  unfortunately,  almost 
©very  tiling  of  real  value  to  u*  in  our  present  «ase,  was  urulor 


THE  LOSS  OP  THE  ALCESTE.  415 

water.  We  were  in  hopes,  however,  that,  as  no  bad  weather 
was  likely  to. .happen,  we  might  be  enabled,  by  scuttling  at  low 
water,  or  by  burning  her  upper  works,  to  acquire  many  useful 
articles. 

41  On  Friday  (21st)  the  party  stationed  at  the  ship  found  them- 
selves, soon  after  daylight,  surrounded  by  a  number  of  Malay 
proas,  apparently  well  armed,  and  full  of  men.  Without  a  single 
sword  or  musket  for  defence,  they  had  just  time  to  throw  them- 
s  Ives  into  the  boat  alongside,  and  push  for  the  shore,  chased  by 
the  pirates,  who,  finding  two  of  our  other  boats  push  out  to  their 
assistance,  returned  to  the  ship  and  took  possession  of  her.  Soon 
afterwards  it  was  reported,  from  the  look-out  rock,  that  the  sav- 
ages, armed  with  spears,  were  landing  at  a  point  about  two  miles 
off.  Under  all  the  depressing  circumstances  attending  shipwreck 
— of  hunger,  thirst,  and  fatigue,  and  menaced  by  a  ruthless  foe, 
it  was  glorious  to  see  the  British  spirit  stanch  and  unsubdued. 
The  order  was  given  for  every  man  to  arm  himself  in  the  best  way 
he  could;  and  it  was  obeyed  with  the  utmost  promptitude  and 
alacrity.  Rude  pike-staves  were  formed,  by  cutting  down  young 
trees;  small  swords,  dirks,  knives,  chisels,  and  even  large  spike 
nails  sharpened,  were  firmly  affixed  to  the  ends  of  these  poles; 
and  those  who  could  find  nothing  better,  hardened  the  end  of  the 
wood  in  the  fire,  and  .bringing  it  to  a  sharp  point,  formed  a  tole- 
rable weapon.  There  were,  perhaps,  a  dozen  cutlasses;  the 
marines  had  about  thirty  muskets  and  bayonets,  but  could  muster 
no  more  than  seventy-five  ball  cartridges  among  the  whole  party. 
We  had  fortunately  preserved  some  loose  powder  drawn  from  the 
upper  deck  guns  after  the  ship  had  struck,  (for  the  magazine  was 
under  water  in  five  minutes,)  and  the  marines,  by  hammering 
their  buttons  round,  and  by  rolling  up  pieces  of  broken  bottles  in 
cartridges,  did  their  best  to  supply  themselves  with  a  sort  of 
Pang  rage  which  would  have  some  effect  at  close  quarters;  and 
strict  orders  were  given  not  to  throw  away  a  single  shot  until  sure 
of  their  ai:n.  Mr.  Cheffy,  the  carpenter,  and  his  crew,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Captain,  were  busied  in  forming  a  sort  of  abattis, 
bv  felling  trees,  and  enclosing  in  a  circular  shape  the  ground  we 
occupied;  and,  by  interweaving  loose  branches  with  the  stakes 
driven  in  among  these,  a  breastwork  was  constructed,  which 
afforded  us  some  cover,  and  must  naturally  impede  the  progress 
of  anv  enemy  unapplied  with  artillery.  That  part  of  the  island 
we  had  landed  on  was  a  narrow  ridge,  not  above  a  musket  shot 
across,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  sea,  and  on  the  other  by  a 
creek,  extending  upwards  of  a  mile  inland,  and  nearly  communi- 
cating with  the  sea  at  its  head.  Our  hill  was  the  outer  point  of 
this  tongue,  and  its  shape  .might  be  very  well  represented  by  an 
inverted  punch  bowl;  the  circle  on  which  the  bowl  stands  would 
then  show  the  fortification,  and  the  space  within  it  our  citadel. 

"  It  appeared  by  the  report  of  scouts,  a  short  time  after  the 


416  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE. 

first  account,  that  the  Malays  had  not  actually  landed,  but  had 
taken  possession  of  some  rocks  near  this  point,  on  which  they 
deposited  a  quantity  of  plunder  brought  from  the  ship;  and  during 
the  day  they  continued  making  these  predatory  trips. 

"  In  the  evening  all  hands  were  mustered  under  arms,  and  a  mot- 
ley group  they  presented;,  it  was  gratifying,  however,  to  observe, 
that,  rude  as  were  their  implements  of  defence,  there  seemed  to 
be  no  want  of  spirit  to  use  them,  if  occasion  offered.  The  officers 
and  men  were  now  marshalled  regularly  into  different  divisions 
and  companies,  their  various  posts  assigned,  and  other  arrange- 
ments made.  An  officer  and  party  were  ordered  to  take  charge 
of  the  boats  for  the  night;  and  they  were  hauled  closer  into  the 
landing  place.  An  alarm  which  occurred  during  the  night  showed 
the  benefit  of  these  regulations;  for,  on  a  sentry  challenging  a 
noise  among  the  bushes,  every  one  was  at  his  post  in  an  instant, 
and  without  the  least  confusion. 

"On  Saturday  morning,  (22d,)  some  of  the  Malay  boats  ap- 
proached the  place  where  ours  were  moored;  and,  with  the  view 
of  ascertaining  whether  they  had  any  inclination  to  communicate 
on  friendly  terms,  the  gig,  with  an  officer  and  four  hands,  pulled 
gently  towards  them,  waving  the  bough  of  a  tree,  (a  general  sym- 
bol of  peace  every  where,)  showing  the  usual  demonstrations  of 
friendship,  and  of  a  desire  to  speak  to  them;  but  all  was  vain,  for 
they  were  merely  reconnoitring  our  position,  and  immediately 
pulled  back  to  their  rock. 

"The  second  Lieutenant  (Mr.  Hay)  was  now  ordered,  with 
the  barge,  cutter,  and  gig,  armed  in  the  best  way  we  could,  to 
proceed  to  the  ship,  and  regain  possession  of  her,  either  by  fair 
means  or  by  force;  the  pirates  not  appearing  at  this  time  to  have 
more  than  eighty  men.  Those  on  the  rocks,  seeing  our  boats  ap- 
proach, threw  all  their  plunder  into  their  vessels  and  made  off. 

"  Two  of  their  largest  proas  were  now  at  work  on  the  ship; 
but,  on  observing  their  comrades  abandon  the  rock,  and  the  ad- 
vance of  the  boats,  they  also  made  sail  away,  having  previously 
set  fire  to  the  ship;  which  they  did  so  effectually,  that  in  a  few 
minutes  the  flames  burst  from  every  port,  and  she  was  enveloped 
in  a  cloud  of  smoke.  The  boats  were  unable  to  board  her,  and 
therefore  retunned. 

"  Here  was  a  period  to  every  hope  of  accommodation  with  these 
people — if,  indeed,  any  reasonable  hope  could  ever  have  been  en- 
tertained on  that  head.  The  Malays,  more  especially  those  wan- 
dering and  piratical  tribes  who  roam  about  the  coasts  of  Borneo, 
Billiton,  and  the  wilder  parts  of  Sumatra,  are  a  race  of  savages, 
perhaps  the  most  merciless  and  inhuman  to  be  found  in  any  part 
of  the  world.  The  Battas  are  literally  cannibals.  In  setting  fire 
to  the  ship,  they  gave  a  decided  proof  of  their  disposition  towards 
us;  but,  although  certainly  with  no  good  intention,  they  did  mere- 
ly what  we  intended  to  do;  for,  by  burning  her  upper  works  and 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE.  417 

decks,  every  thing  buoyant  could  float  up  from  below,  and  be  more 
easily  laid  hold  of. 

"  The  ship  continued  burning  during  the  whole  of  the  night; 
and  the  flames,  which  could  be  seen  through  the  openings  of  the 
trees,  shed  a  melancholy  glare  around,  and  excited  the  most 
mournful  ideas.  This  night,  also,  all  hands  were  suddenly  under 
arms  again,  from  a  marine  firing  his  musket  at  what  he  very 
properly  considered  a  suspicious  character  near  his  post,  who  ap- 
peared advancing  upon  him,  and  refused  to  answer  after  being 
repeatedly  hailed.  It  turned  out  afterwards  that  the  branch  of  a 
tree,  half  cut  through  the  day  before,  had  given  away,  under  one 
of  a  race  of  large  baboons,  which  we  found  about  this  time  disput- 
ed the  possession  of  the  island  with  us.  At  the  well,  where  there 
generally  was  kept  a  good  fire  at  night,  on  account  of  the  mosqui- 
toes, the  sentries  had  more  than  once  been  alarmed  by  these 
gentlemen  showing  their  black  faces  from  behind  the  trees.  They 
became  so  exceedingly  troublesome  to  some  ducks  we  had  saved 
from  the  wreck,  (seizing  and  carrying  them  up  the  trees,  and 
letting  them  fall  down  again  when  alarmed,)  that  on  several  occa- 
sions they  left  their  little  yard,  and  came  up  among  the  people, 
when  the  monkeys  got  among  them ;  thus  instinctively  preferring 
the  society7  of  man  for  protection. 

"On  Sunday  morning,  (23d,)  the  boats  were  sent  to  the  still 
smoking  wreck;  and  some  flour,  a  few  cases  of  wine,  and  a  cask 
of  beer,  had  floated  up.  This  last  God-send  was  announced  just 
at  the  conclusion  of  divine  service, 'which  was  this  morning  held 
in  the  mess-tent;  and  a  pint  was  ordered  to  be  immediately  served 
out  to  each  man,  which  called  forth  three  cheers.  This  seems  to 
be  the  only  style  in  which  a  British  seaman  can  give  vent  to  the 
warmer  feelings  of  his  heart.  It  is  his  mode  of  thanksgiving  for 
benefits  received;  and  it  equally  serves  him  to  honor  his  friend, 
to  defy  his  enemy,  or  to  proclaim  victory.  This  day  we  continued 
improving  our  fence,  and  clearing  away  a  glacis  immediately 
around  it,  that  we  might  see  and  have  fair  play  with  these  barbari- 
ans, should  they  approach.  They  had  retired  behind  a  little  islet, 
called  Pulo  Chalacca,  or  Misfortune's  Isle,  about  two  miles  from 
us,  and  seemed  waiting  there  for  reinforcements;  for  some  of  their 
partv  had  made  sail  towards  Billiton. 

"  Monday  morning,  (24,)  the  boats,  as  yesterday,  went  to  the 
wreck,  and  returned  with  some  casks  of  flour,  only  partially  dam- 
aged; a  few  cases  of  wine,  and  about  forty  boarding  pikes,  with 
eighteen  muskets,  were  also  laid  hold  of.  With  the  loose  powder 
secured  out  of  the  great  guns  in  the  first  instance,  Mr.  Holtnan, 
the  gunner,  had  been  actively  employed  forming  musket-car- 
tridges; and  by  melting  down  some  pewter  basins  and  jugs,  with 
a  small  quantity  of  leaoMately  obtained  from  the  wreck,  balls  were 
cast  in  clay  moulds,  increasing  not  a  little  our  confidence  and  se- 
curity. A  quart  of  water  each  had  been  our  daily  allowance  from 


418  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE. 

the  well  hitherto;  and  on  this  day  a  second  was  completed  near 
the  foot  of  the  hill  in  .another  direction,  which  not  only  supplied 
clearer  water,  but  in  greater  plenty;  and  we  could  now,  without 
restriction,  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  a  long  drink — not  caring  even 
to  excite  thirst,  in  order  to  enjoy  that  luxury  in  a  higher  perfec- 
tion. 

"On  Tuesday,  (25th,)  the  boats  made  their  usual  trip;  some 
more  cases  of  wine,  and  a  few  boarding-pikes,  were  obtained, 
both  excellent  articles  in  their  way,  in  the  hands  of  men  who  are 
inclined  to  entertain  either  their  friends  or  their  foes.  On  shore 
we  were  employed  completing  the  paths  to  the  wells,  and  felling 
trees  which  intercepted  our  view  of  the  sea. 

"  Wednesday  (26th,)  at  daylight,  two  of  the  pirate  proas,  with 
each  a  canoe  astern,  were  discovered  close  in  with  the  cove  where 
our  boats  were  moored.  Lieutenant  Hay,  (a  straight-forward 
sort  of  a  fellow,)  who  had  the  guard  that  night  at  the  boats,  and 
of  course  slept  in  them,  immediately  dashed  at  the  Malays  with 
the  barge,  cutter,  and  gig.  On  perceiving  this,  they  cut  adrift 
their  canoes,  and  made  all  sail,  chased  by  our  boats.  They  rather 
distanced  the  cutter  and  gig,  but  the  barge  gained  upon  them. 
On  closing,  the  Malays  evinced  every  sign  of  defiance,  placing 
themselves  in  the  most  threatening  attitudes,  and  firing  their  swivels 
at  the  barge.  This  was  returned  by  Mr.  Hay  with  the  .only  mus- 
ket he  had  in  the  boat;  and,  as  they  closed  nearer,  the  Malays 
commenced  throwing  their  javelins  and  darts,  several  falling  into 
the  barge,  but  without  wounding  any  of  the  men.  Soon  after 
they  were  grappled  by  our  fellows,  when  three  of  them  having 
been  shot,  and  a  fourth  knocked  down  with  the  but-end  of  the 
musket,  five  more  jumped  overboard  and  drowned  themselves, 
(evidently  disdaining  quarter,)  and  two  were  taken  prisoners,  one 
of  whom  was  severely  wounded.  This  close  style  of  fighting  is 
termed  by  seamen  man-handling  an  enemy. 

"  The  Malays  had  taken  somejneasures  to  sink  their  proa,  for 
she  went  down  almost  immediately.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  des- 
perate ferocity  of  these  people.  One  who  had  been  shot  through 
the  body,  but  who  was  not  quite  dead,  on  being  removed  into  the 
tmr<re,  with  a  view  of  saving  him,  (as  his  own  vessel  was  sinking,) 
luri')usly  grasped  a  cutlass  which  came  within  his  reach;  and  it 
was  not  without  a  struggle  wrenched  from  his  hand ;  he  died  in 
a  few  minutes.  The  consort  of  this  proa,  firing  a  parting  shot, 
bore  up  round  the  north  end  of  the  island  and  escaped.  Their 
canoes*  (which  we  found  very  useful  to  us,)  were  also  brought  on 

*  "  During  the  time  the  boats  were  absent  in  chase,  Mr.  Fisher,  anxious  to  secure  one  of 
the  cance*,  '.vhicli  \v;is  drifting  past  with  the  current,  swain  out  towards  it.  When  within  a 
short  distance  of  his  object,  an  enormous  shark  was  seen  hovering  near  him,  cro^siriir  and 
rerrossinn,  as  they  are  sometimes  observed  to  do  hefore  making  a  seizure.  To  have  called 
out  mizht  probably  have  unnerved  him,  (for  he  was  unconsclons  of  his  situation;)  and  it  was 
resolved  to  let.  him  proceed  without  remark  to  the  canon,  which  was  the  nearest  point  of 
security.  Happily  he  succeeded  in  getting  safely  into  it;  whilst  the  shark,  by  his  too  long 
f  ty,  lost  a  very  wholesome  breakfast." 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE.  419 

shore,  containing  several  articles  of  plunder  from  the  ship.  They 
appeared  to  be  the  two  identical  proas  which  set  fire  to  her.  Th« 
prisoners,  (the  one  rather  elderly,  the  other  young,)  when  brought 
on  shore,  seemed  to  have  no  hope  of  being  permitted  to  live,  and 
sullenly  awaited  their  fate;  but,  on  the  wounds  of  the  younger 
being  dressed,  the  hands  of  the  other  untied,  and  food  offered  to 
them,  with  other  marks  of  kindness,  they  became  more  cheerful, 
and  appeared  especially  gratified  at  seeing  one  of  their  dead 
companions,  who  had  been  brought  on  shore,  decently  buried. 

"  The  Malays  are  a  people  of  very  unprepossessing  aspect; 
their  bodies  of  a  deep  bronze  color;  their  black  teeth  and  reddened 
lips,  (from  chewing  the  beetle-nut  and  siri,)  their  gaping  nostrils, 
and  lank  clotted  hair  hanging  about  their  shoulders  and  over 
their  scowling  countenances,  give  them  altogether  a  fiendlike  and 
murderous  look.  They  are  likewise  an  unjoyous  race,  and  seldom 
smile. 

"  The  state  of  one  of  the  wounds  received  by  the  Malay,  (his 
knee  joint  being  penetrated,  and  the  bones  much  injured,)  would 
have  justified,  more  particularly  in  this  kind  of  field  practice, 
amputation;  but.  on  consideration  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
convince  him  of  this  being  done  with  the  intention  of  benefitting 
him,  and  might  have  the  appearance  of  torture,  which  it  was  not 
improbable  might  suggest  the  idea  of  amputation  and  other  opera- 
tions to  them,  in  the  event  of  any  or  all  of  us  falling  into  their 
hands,  it  was  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  a  good  constitution, 
and  careful  attention.  A  little  wigwam  was  built,  and  a  blanket 
and  other  comforts  given  to  him,  his  comrade  being  appointed  his 
cook  and  attendant.  They  refused  at  first  the  provisions  we  offer- 
ed them;  but,  oiLgivihg  them  some  rice  to  prepare  in  their  own 
way,  they  seemed  satisfied.  ?s  ever  expecting  quarter  when  over- 
powered in  their  piratical  attempts,  and  having  been  generally 
tortured  when  taken  alive,  may  account  for  the  others  drowning 
themselves. 

({  In  the  forenoon,  immediately  after  this  rencounter,  fourteen 
proas  and  smaller  boats  appeared  standing  across  from  the  Banca 
side;  and  soon  after  they  anchored  behind  Pulo  Chalacca.  Sev- 
eral of  their  people  landed,  and  carrying  up  some  bundles  on  their 
shoulders,  left  them  in  the  wood,  and  returned  for  more.  We  had 
some  hope  from  the  direction  in  which  they  first  appeared,  as  well 
as  their  anchoring  at  that  spot,  (the  rendezvous  agreed  upon  at 
the  departure  of  Lord  Amherst,)  that  they  might  have  been  sent 
from  Bata\  ia  to  our  relief. 

"  The  small  flag,  belonging  to  the  embassy,  was  brought  down 
and  displayed  on  the  look-out  rock;  the  strangers  each  immediately 
hoisted  sffme  flag  at  their  mast-heads.  Anxious  to  know  still 
more  about  them,  Mr.  Sykes  was  allowed  to  advance  with  the 
union-jack,  accompanied  by  some  more  of  the  young  gentlemen, 
along  the  strand,  to  a  considerable  distance;  and  soon  after  some 


420  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  ALCESTE. 

of  their  party,  with  a  flag,  set  off  to  meet  them.  As  they  mutually 
approached,  the  Malays  dropped  a  little  in  the  rear  of  their  flag- 
bearer,  and  laid  down  their  arms;  ours  also  fell  astern,  and  the 
two  ancients,  (or  color  men,)  wading  into  a  creek  which  separa- 
ted them,  cautiously  met  each  other.  The  Malay  salamed  a  good 
deal;  many  fine  Yorkshire  bows  were  made  on  the  other  side; 
shaking  hands  was  the  next  ceremony,  and  then,  joining  flags, 
they  walked  up  arm  and  arm  to  the  place  where  the  Captain  and 
several  others  were  stationed.  Satisfied  now  that  they  must  be 
friends  sent  to  our  assistance,  they  were  welcomed  with  cheers,  and 
every  countenance  was  gladdened.  But  our  joy  was  of  short 
duration;  for  although  their  flag  was  laid  submissively  at  the 
Captain's  feet,  and  all  were  sufficiently  civil  in  their  deportment, 
yet  they  turned  out  to  be  mere  wanderers,  employed  in  gathering 
a  sort  of  seaweed,  found  on  the  coast  of  these  (but  in  still  greater 
abundance  among  the  Pelew)  islands,  said  by  some  to  be  an  article 
of  commerce  with  the  Chinese  epicures,  who  use  it  like  the  bird- 
nests  in  their  soups.  All  this  was  made  out  chiefly  by  signs,  ad- 
ded to  a  few  Malay  words  which  some  understood. 

"  Mr.  Hay,  with  his  division  armed,  proceeded  down  to  their 
anchorage,  himself  and  some  other  officers  going  on  board  with 
their  Rajah,  as  they  styled  him,  who  expressed  a  great  desire  to 
see  the  Captain  on  board,  and  sent  him  a  present  of  a  piece  of 
fish  and  some  cocoa-nut  milk.  During  the  night  many  schemes 
were  proposed  as  to  the  best  mode  of  negotiating  with  these  peo- 
ple. Some  thought  that,  by  the  hope  of  reward,  they  might  be 
induced  to  carry  part  of  us  to  Java,  and  our  four  remaining  boats 
would  then  be  equal  to  the  conveyance  of  the  rest.  Others,  ad- 
verting to  the  treacherous  conduct  of  the  Malays,  and  the  great 
temptation  to  murder  us  when  in  their  power,  from  that  sort  of 
property  still  in  our  possession,  and  to  them  of  great  value,  con- 
sidered it  safest  to  seize  upon  and  disarm  them,  carrying  ourselves 
to  Batavia,  and  then  most  amply  to  remunerate  them  for  any  in- 
convenience they  might  have  sustained  from  being  pressed  into 
the  service. 

"  The  morning  of  Thursday,  the  27th,  however,  perfectly  re- 
lieved us  from  any  further  discussion  on  the  subject,  the  Rajah  and 
his  suite  having  proceeded  to  plunder  the  wreck",  which  by  this 
time  they  had  espied.  It  is  probable  they  were  not  certain  of  our 
real  situation  on  the  first  evening,  but  might  have  supposed,  from 
seeing  the  uniforms,  colors,  and  other  military  appearance,  that 
some  settlement,  as  at  Minto,  in  the  island  of  Banca,  had 
been  established  there;  and  this  may  also  account  for  their  civility 
in  the  first  instance;  for,  from  the  moment  their  harpy-like  spirit  i 
was  excited  by  the  wreck,  and  they  saw  our  real  condition,  there  2 
were  no  more  offerings  offish  or  of  cocoa-nut  milk. 

"  To  have  sent  the  boats  openly  to  attack  them  was  judged  im-   I 
politic;  it  would  only  have  driven  them  off* for  a  moment,   and  out 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE.  421 

tfrem  on  their  guard  against  surprise  by  night,  should  it  be  thought 
necessary  in  a  day  or  two  to  do  so.  They  could  deprive  us  of 
little;  for  the  copper  bolts  and  iron  work,  which  they  were  now 
most  interested  about,  were  not  to  us  of  material  importance. 

"  We  had  the  day  before  moved  the  boats  into  another  cove, 
more  out  of  sight,  from  the  overspreading  branches  of  the  trees, 
and  safer  in  case  of  attack,  being  commanded  by  two  strong  little 
forts,  one  having  a  rude  draw-bridge,  erected  on  the  rocks  imme- 
diately above  it,  and  wattled  in,  where  an  officer  and  piquet  were 
nightly  placed;  and  a  new  serpentine  path  was  cut  down  to  this 
inlet,  communicating  with  our  main  position  aloft. 

"  On  Friday,  the  28th,  the  Malays  were  still  employed  on  the 
wreck.  A  boat  approached  us  in  the  forenoon;  but,  on  the  gig 
going  out  to  meet  it,  they  refused  to  correspond,  and  returned  to 
their  party.  No  relief  having  appeared  from  Batavia,  and  the 
period  being  elapsed  at  which,  as  was  now  thought,  we  had  reason 
to  expect  it,  measures  were  taken,  by  repairing  the  launch  and 
constructing  a  fine  raft,  to  give  us  additional  powers  of  transport- 
ing ourselve's  from  our  present  abode,  before  .our  stock  of  provi- 
sions was  entirely  exhausted. 

"  On  Saturday,  the  fir*t  of  March,  the  Malays  acquired  a  great 
accession  of  strength,  by  the  arrival  of  fourteen  more  proas  from 
the  northward,  probably  of  the  old  party,  who  joined  in  breaking 
up  the  remains  of  the  wreck. 

"  At  daylight,  on  Sunday  the  2d,  still  greater  force  having  join- 
ed them  during  the  night,  the  pirates,  teaving  a  number  at  work 
on  the  wreck,  advanced  with  upwards  of  twenty  of  their  heaviest 
vessels  towards  our  landing  place;  fired  one  of  their  patereroes; 
beat  their  gongs,  and,  making  a  hideous  yelling  noise,  they  an- 
chored in  a  line  about  a  cable's -length  from  our  cove.  We  were 
instantly  under  arms,  the  party  covering  the  boats  strengthened, 
and  scouts  sent  out  to  watch  their  motions,  as  some  of  their  boats 
had  gone  up  the  creek,  at  the  back  of  our  position,  and  to  beat 
about,  lest  any  sfiould  be  lying  in  ambush  from  the  land.  About 
this  time  the  old  Malay  prisoner,  who  was  under  charge  of  sentries 
at  the  well,  and  who  had  been  incautiously  trusted  by  them  to  cut 
some  wood  for  the  fire,  hearing  the  howling  of  his  tribe,  left  his 
wounded  comrade  to  shift  for  himself,  ran  off  into  the  wood,  and 
escaped,  carrying  with  him  his  hatchet.  Finding,  after  waiting  a 
short  time  in  this  state  of  preparation,  that  they  made  no  attempt 
to  land,  an  officer  was  sent  a  little  outside  the  cove  in  a  canoe, 
waving  in  a  friendly  manner,  to  try  how  they  would  act.  After 
some  deliberation,  one  of  their  boats,  with  several  men  armed 
with  creeses,  or  their  crooked  daggers,  approached;  here,  as 
usual,  little  could  be  made  out,  except  a  display  of  their  maraud- 
ing spirit,  by  taking  a  fancy  to  the  shirt  and  trousers  of  one  of  the 
young  gentlemen  in  the  canoe;  but,  on  his  refusing  to  give  them 
up,  they  used  no  force. 

36 


422  THE    LOSS    OP    THE    ALCESTE. 

"  A  letter  was  now  written,  and  addressed  to  the  chief  authority 
at  Minto,  a  small  settlement  on  the  north-west  point  of  Banca, 
stating  the  situation  in  which  we  were  placed,  and  requesting  him 
to  forward,  if  in  his  power,  one  or  two  small  vessels  to  us,  with  a 
little  bread  and  salt  provisions,  and  some  ammunition.  Again  the 
officer  went  out  in  the  canoe,  and  was  again  met  by  the  Malay 
boat.  This  letter  was  given  to  them,  the  word  Minto  repeatedly 
pronounced,  which  they  seemed  to  understand,  the  direction 
pointed  out,  and  signs  made  that  on  their  return  with  an  answer 
.,hey  should  be  rewarded  with  abundance  of  dollars,  showing  them 
one  as  a  specimen.  This  was  done  more  to  try  them,  than  with 
any  hope  of  their  performing  the  servive ;  for,  although  a  boat 
went  down  to  Pulo  Chalacca,  where  they  appeared  to  have  some- 
body in  superior  authority,  yet  none  took  the  direction  of  Banca. 
Meantime  their  force  rapidly  increased,  their  proas  and  boats  of 
different  sizes  amounting  to  fifty.  The  larger  had  from  sixteen  to 
twenty  men,  the  smaller  about  seven  or  eight;  so  that,  averaging 
them  at  the  lowest,  ten  each,  they  had  fully  five  hundred  men. 
The  wreck  seemed  now  nearly  exhausted,  and  appeared  to  be  a 
very  secondary  object,  knowing  the  chief  booty  must  be  in  our 
possession;  and  they  blockaded  us  with  increased  rigor,  drawing 
closer  into  the  cove,  more  especially  at  high  water,  fearful  lest  our 
boats,  being  afloat  at  that  period,  should  push  out  and  escape 
them.  In  the  afternoon  some  of  the  Rajah's  people,  whom  we  at 
first  considered  our  friends,  made  their  appearance,  as  if  seeking 
a  parley;  and  on  communicating  with  them,  gave  us  to  under- 
stand by  signs,  and  as  many  words  as  could  be  made  out,  that  all 
the  Malays,  except  their  party,  were  extremely  hostile  to  us;  that 
it  was  their  determination  to  attack  us  that  night,  and  urging  also 
that  some  of  their  people  should  sleep  up  the  hill,  in  order  to  pro- 
tect us.  Their  former  conduct  and  present  connexions  displayed 
so  evidently  the  treachery  of  this  offer,  that  it  is  needless  to  say 
that  it  was  rejected;  giving  them  to  understand  we  could  trust  to 
ourselves.  They  immediately  returned  to  the^r  gang,  who  cer- 
tainly assumed  a  most  menacing  attitude.  In  the  evening,  when 
the  officers  and  men  were  assembled  as  usual  under  arms,  in  order 
to  inspect  them,  and  settle  the  watches  for  the  night,  the  Captain 
spoke  to  them  with  much  animation,  almost  verbatim  as  follows; 

"  '  My  lads,  you  must  all  have  observed  this  day,  as  well  as  my- 
self, the  great  increase  of  the  enemy's  force — for  enemies  we  must 
now  consider  them — and  the  threatening  posture  they  have  assum- 
ed. I  have,  on  various  grounds,  strong  reason  to  believe  they  will 
attack  us  this  night.  I  do  not  wish  to  conceal  our  real  state,  be- 
cause I  think  there  is  not  a  man  here  who  is  afraid  to  face  any 
sort  of  danger.  We  are  now  strongly  fenced  in,  and  our  position 
is  in  all  respects  so  good,  that,  armed  as  we  are,  we  ought  to 
make  a  formidable  defence  against  even  regular  troops;  what,  then, 
would  be  thought  of  us  if  we  allowed  ourselves  to  be  surprised 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    ALCESTE.  423 

by  a  set  of  naked  savages,  with  their  spears  and  creeses?  It  is 
true  they  have  swivels  in  their  boats,  but  they  cannot  act  here;  I 
have  not  observed  that  they  have  any  matchlocks  or  muskets;  but 
if  they  have,  so  have  we.  I  do  not  wish  to  deceive  you  as  to  the 
means  of  resistance  in  our  power.  When  we  were  first  thrown  to- 
gether on  shore,  we  were  almost  defenceless;  only  seventy-five  ball 
cartridges  could  be  mustered;  we  have  now  sixteen  hundred. 
They  cannot,  I  believe,  send  up  more  than  five  hundred  men;  but 
with  two  hundred  such  as  now  stand  around  me,  I  do  not  fear  a 
thousand,  nay,  fifteen  hundred  of  them.  I  have  the  fullest  confi- 
dence we  shall  beat  them;  the  pikemen  standing  firm,  we  can 
give  them  such  a  volley  of  musketry  as  they  will  be  little  prepar- 
ed for;  and  when  we  find  they  are  thrown  into  confusion,  we  will 
sally  out  among  them,  chase  them  into  the  water,  and  ten  to  one 
but  we  secure  their  vessels.  Let  every  man,  therefore,  be  on  the 
alert,  with  his  arms  in  his  hands,  and  should  these  barbarians  this 
night  attempt  our  hill,  I  trust  we  shall  convince  them  that  they 
are  dealing  with  Britons.' 

"  Perhaps  three  jollier  hurrahs  were  never  given  than  at  the 
conclusion  of  this  short  but  well-timed  address.  The  woods  fairly 
echoed  again;  whilst  the  piquet  at  the  cove,  and  those  stationed 
at  the  wells,  the  instant  it  caught  their  ear,  instinctively  joined 
their  sympathetic  cheers  to  the  general  chorus. 

"  There  was  something  like  unity,  and  concord  in  such  a  sound, 
(one  neither  resembling  the  feeble  shout  nor  savage  yell,)  which, 
rung  in  the  ears  of  these  gentlemen,  no  doubt  had  its  effect;  for 
about  this  time  (8  P.  M.)  they  were  observed  making  signals  with 
lights  to  some  of  their  tribe  behind  the  islet.  If  ever  seamen  or 
marines  had  a  strong  inducement  to  fight,  it  was  on  the  present 
occasion,  for  every  thing  conduced  to  animate  them.  The  feeling 
excited  by  a  savage,  cruel,  and  inhospitable  aggression  on  the 
part  of  the  Malays — an  aggression  adding  calamity  to  misfortune 
— roused  every  mind  to  a  spirit  of  just  revenge;  and  the  appeal 
now  made  tp  them  on  the  score  of  national  character  was  not  likely 
to  let  that  feeling  cool.  That  they  might  come,  seemed  to  be  the 
anxious  wish  of  every  heart.  After  a  slender  but  cheerful  repast, 
the  men  laid  down  as  usual  on  their  arms,  whilst  the  Captain  re- 
mained with  those  on  guard  to  superintend  his  arrangements.  An 
alarm  during  the  night  showed  the  effect  of  preparation  on  the 
people's  minds,  for  all,  like  lightning,  were  at  their  posts,  and  re- 
turned growling  and  disappointed  because  the  alarm  was  false. 

"  Daylight,  on  Monday  the  3d,  discovered  the  pirates  exactly 
in  the  same  position  in  front  of  us;  ten  m^re  vessels  having  joined 
them  during  the  night,  making  their  number  now  at  least  six  hun- 
dred men.  The  plot  began  to  thicken,  and  our  situation  became 
hourly  more  critical.  Their  force  rapidly  accumulating,  and  our 
little  'stock  of  provisions  daily  shortening,  rendered  some  des- 
perate measure  immediately  necessary. 


424  THE    LOSS    OP    THE    ALCESTE. 

"That  which  seemed  most  feasible  was,  by  a  sudden  night 
attack,  with  our  four  boats  well  armed,  to  carry  by  boarding  some 
of  their  vessels;  and,  by  manning  them,  repeat  our  attack  with 
increased  force,  taking  more,  or  dispersing  them.  The  possession 
of  some  of  their  proas,  In  addition  to  our  own  boats,  taking  into 
consideration  that  our  numbers  would  be  thinned  on  the  occasion, 
might  enable  us  to  shove  off  for  Java,  in  defiance  of  them.  Any 
attempt  to  move  on  a  raft,  with  their  vessels  playing  round  it  arm- 
ed with  swivels,  was  evidently  impossible.  Awful  as  our  situation 
now  was,  and  every  hour  becoming  more  so,  starvation  staring  us 
in  the  face  on  one  hand,  and  without  a  hope  of  mercy  from  the 
savages  on  the  other,  yet  were  there  no  symptoms  of  depression, 
or  gloomy  despair;  every  mind  seemed  buoyant;  and,  if  any  es- 
timate of  the  general  feeling  could  be  collected  from  countenances, 
from  the  manner  and  expressions  of  all,  there  appeared  to  be  form- 
ed in  every  breast  a  calm  determination  to  dash  at  them,  and  be 
successful;  or  to  fall,  as  became  men,  in  the  attempt  to  be  free. 

"  About  noon  on  this  day,  whilst  schemes  and  proposals  were 
flying  about,  as  to  the  mode  of  executing  the  measures  in  view, 
Mr.  Johristone,  ever  on  the  alert,  who  had  mounted  the  look-out- 
tree,  one  of  the  loftiest  on  the  summit  of  our  hill,  descried  a  sail  at 
a  great  distance  to  the  southward,  which  he  thought  larger  than  a 
Malay  vessel.  The  buzz  of  conversation  was  in  a  moment  hush- 
ed, and  every  eye  fixed  anxiously  on  the  tree  for  the  next  report; 
a  signal-man  and  telescope  being  instantly  sent  up.  She  was  now 
lost  sight  of  from  a  dark  squall  overspreading  that  part  of  the 
horizon;  but,  in  about  twenty  minutes,  she  emerged  from  the  cloud, 
and  was  decidedly  announced  to  be  a  square-rigged  vessel.  '  Are 
you  quite  sure  of  that?'  was  eagerly  inquired.  '  Quite  certain,' 
was  the  reply;  '  it  is  either  a  ship  or  a  brig,  standing  towards  the 
island  under  all  sail.'  The  joy  this  happy  sight  infused,  and  the 
gratitude  of  every  heart  at  this  prospect  of  deliverance,  may  be 
more  easily  conceived  than  described.  It  occasioned  a  sudden 
transition  of  the  mind  from  one  train  of  thinking  to  another;  as  if 
waking  from  a  disagreeable  dream.  We  immediately  displayed 
our  colors  on  the  highest  branch  of  the  tree,  to  attract  attention,  lest 
she  should  only  be  a  passing  stranger. 

"The  pirates  soon  after  this  discovered  the  ship,  (a  signal  hav- 
ing been  made  with  a  gun  by  those  anchored  behind  Pulo  Chal- 
acca,)  which  occasioned  an  evident  stir  among  them.  As  the 
water  was  ebbing  fast,  it  was  thought  possible,  by  an  unexpected 
rush  out  to  the  edge  of  the  reef,  to  get  some  of  them  under  fire, 
and  secure  them.  They  seemed,  however,  to  have  suspected  our 
purpose;  for  the  moment  the  seamen  and  marines  appeared  from 
under  the  mangroves,  the  nearest  proa  let  fly  her  swivel  among  a 
party  of  the  officers,  who  had  been  previously  wading  outwards; 
and  the  whole  instantly  getting  under  weigh,  made  sail  off,  firod 
at  by  our  people;  but  unfortunately  without  effect;  for,  in  addi- 


OLD    IRONSIDES.  425 

tion  to  the  dexterous  management  of  their  boats,  the  wind  enabled 
them  to  weather  the  rocks.  It  was  fortunate,  however,  this  attack 
on  them  took  place,  and  that  it  had  the  effect  of  driving  them  away; 
for,  had  they  stood  their  ground,  we  were  as  much  in  their  power 
as  ever — the  ship  being  obliged  to  anchor  eight  miles  to  leeward 
of  the  island,  and  eleven  or  twelve  from  our  position,  on  account 
of  the  wind  and  current;  and,  as  this  wind  and  current  continued 
the  same  for  some  time  afterwards,  they  might  most  easily,  with 
their  force,  have  cut  off  all  communication  between  us.  Indeed, 
it  was  a  providential  and  most  extraordinary  circumstance,  during 
this  monsoon  that  the  ship  was  able  to  fetch  up  as  far  as  she  did. 
The  blockade  being  now  raised,  the  gig,  with  Messrs.  Sykes  and 
Abbot,  was  despatched  to  the  ship,  which  proved  to  be  the  Ter- 
nate,  one  of  the  Company's  cruisers,  sent  by  Lord  Amherst  to  our 
assistance,  having  on  board  Messrs.  Ellis  and  Hoppner,  who  em- 
barked on  the  day  of  their  arrival  at  Batavia,  and  pushed  back  to 
the  island." 


"OLD  IRONSIDES."* 

Ay  !  pull  her  tattered  ensign  down, 

Long  has  it  waved  on  high, 
And  many  a  heart  has  danced  to  see 

That  banner  in  the  sky  ; 
Beneath  it  rung  the  battle  shout, 

And  burst  the  cannon's  roar — 
The  meteor  of  the  ocean  air 
,     Shall  sweep  the  clouds  no  more. 

Her  deck,  once  red  with  heroes'  blood, 

Where  knelt  the  vanquished  foe, 
When  winds  were  hurrying  o'er  the  flood 

And  waves  were  white  below, 
No  more  shall  feel  the  conqueror's  tread 

Or  know  the  conquered  knee  ;• 
The  harpies  of  the  shore  shall  pluck 

The  eagle  of  the  sea  ! 

Oh  better  that  her  shattered  hulk 

Should  sink  beneath  the  wave  ; 
Her  thunders  shook  the  mighty  deep 

And  there  should  be  her  grave. 
Nail  to  the  mast  her  holy  flag, 

Set  every  threadbare  sail, 
And  give  her  to  the  god  of  storms — 

The  lightning  and  the  gale  ! 


*Vide  Frontispiece. 

36* 


426  KOTZEBUE. 


KOTZEBUE. 

Captain  Kotzebue  sailed  from  Cronstadt  in  a  frigate  of  con- 
siderable size,  with  a  cargo  for  Kamschatka.  His  orders  were 
to  proceed  from  thence  to  the  north-west  coast  of  America,  for 
the  protection  of  the  Russian  company  at  Ross — to  remain  on  that 
station  a  year,  and  then  to  return  to  Cronstadt.  In  going  and 
returning  he  was  left  wholly  to  his  own  discretion,  and  he  turned 
the  liberty  allowed  him,  to  the  prosecution  of  geographical  dis- 
covery. Starting  from  Cronstadt,  in  the  summer  of  1823,  he  first 
landed  at  Portsmouth,  and  next  at  Rio  Janeiro,  where  he  met  with 
Lord  Cochrane,  and  made  his  acquaintance.  Lord  Cochrane 
had  recently  quitted  Chili,  and  was  then  in  the  Brazil  service, 
and  longing  to  enter  the  Russian,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the 
Greeks  and  fighting  the  Turks.  "  War  seems  to  him,"  says 
Captain  Kotzebue,  "  as  indispensable,  and^struggle  in  defence  of  a 
good  cause  the  highest  enjoyment."  The  captain,  however,  is 
puzzled  how  to  reconcile  this,  which  he  calls  enthusiasm,  with 
the  noble  lord's  passion  for  money.  Doubling  Cape  Horn,  with 
scarcely  a  gale  to  ripple  the  waters,  he  stopped  next  on  the  coast 
of  Chili,  where  though  he  was  welcomed  with  apparent  cordiality, 
suspicions  were  excited — the  natives  were  full  of  alarms  about 
the  Spaniards,  and  he  found  it  prudent  to  hasten  his  departure. 
From  the  port  of  Talcuquanha,  he  struck  into  the  south-east  trade 
wind,  and  three  thousand  or  four  thousand  miles  swept  over  in 
three  weeks,  took  him  to  O  Tahaita  (for  the  O,  it  seems,  is  only 
the  article),  where  he  spent  some  time — long  enough  to  ascertain 
the  degenerating  condition  of  the  island.  The  advance  so  rapidly 
made  by  the  activity  and  energy  of  Pomareh,  is  fast  retrograding. 
The  navy,  of  which  so  much  was  said  a  few  years  ago,  has  almost 
wholly  vanished.  Three  or  four  missionaries,  themselves  igno- 
rant men,  rule  despotically;  and  praying  and  preaching,  Captain 
Kotzebue  found  substituted  for  more  active  pursuits.  So  com- 
pletely cowed  are  the  natives,  by  the  theocratic  discipline  of  these 
men,  that  they  allow  themselves  to  be  driven  to  prayers  by  the 
cudgel.  The  religion  of  the  islanders,  Captain  Kotzebue  affirms, 
is  mere  formality.  The  missionaries,  it  is  true,  have  abolished 
some  superstitions,  but  only  to  make  way  for  others  scarcely  less 
gross.  Thieving  and  concubinage  are  under  some  restraint,  but 
bigotry  and  hypocrisy  flourish  vigorously,  and  the  Tahaitians  are 
now  any  thing  but  the  open  and  benevolent  beings  they  appeared 
to  their  first  discoverers.  If  human  sacrifices  are  abandoned,  it 
has  been  at  the  expense  of  a  large  majority  of  the  population 
They  were  once  estimated  at.  one  Hundred  and  fifty  thousand;  and 
do  not  now  exceed  eight  thousand — the  effect  of  the  chief's 


KOTZEBUE.  427 

(Taio)  conversion,  who  butchered  right  and  left,  and  almost  cleared 
the  island.  There  must  be  some  exaggeration  here,  for  the 
massacre  took  place  in  1797,  and  Pomareh  could  never  have 
accomplished  what  he  did  with  a  population  of  eight  thousand. 
A  son  of  Taio,  whom  Pomareh  destroyed,  is  still  living, — he  has, 
it  seems,  a  party  in  the  island,  and  Captain  Kotzebue  anticipated 
an  explosion,  and  a  violent  end  to  the  present  dynasty  and  the 
missionary  power. 

At  O  Tahaita,  he  met  with  one  of  Adams's  seraglio,  lately  re- 
turned to  her  native  home  from  Pitcairn's  Island.  From  infor- 
mation received  from  her,  and  an  American  captain  who  had 
recently  visited  the  island,  M.  Kotzebue  learned  the  now  well- 
known  story  of  the  settlement  of  the  mutineers  of  the  Bounty. 
The  Mai  du  pays  had  brought  the  old  lady  home,  but  she  soon 
changed  her  mind  again.  She  found  O  Tahaita  sadly  degenerated 
— it  was  no  longer  like  the  Paradise  she  had  left;  nobody  could 
be  compared,  she  said,  with  her  Adams.  Missionaries,  it  seems, 
are  likely  to  extend  their  dominion  to  that  peaceful  and  gentle 
family.  "  May  Adams's  paternal  government,"  says  Kotzebue, 
"  never  be  exchanged  for  despotism,  nor  his  practical  lessons  of 
piety  be  forgotten  in  empty  forms  of  prayer." 

From  O  Tahaita  Kotzebue  steered  westerly  to  Navigator's 
Islands,  and  beyond — ascertaining  the  geographical  positions  of 
several  contested  spots,  and  discovering  new  lands.  Proceeding 
then  northward  he  reached  the  Radack  Islands,  a  group,  in  about 
ten  degrees  north  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  east  from  Green- 
wich, which  he  himself  discovered  in  1816.  Landing  at  Otdia, 
he  was  joyfully  recognised  by  many  of  the  natives,  and  the  name 
of  Totabu  (their  articulation  of  Kotzebue)  was  echoed  with  de- 
light. The  natives  of  these  beautiful  islands  are  represented  as 
gentle  and  well  disposed — very  much,  indeed,  ns  the  O  Tahaitians 
were  originally.  They  have  not  yet  got  the  missionaries  among 
them. 

On  the  captain's  arrival  at  the  Russian  company's  settlement, 
at  Ross,  on  the  north-west  coast  of  America,  he  found  his  services 
not  required  for  some  months,  and  he  filled  up  the  interval  by  an 
excursion  to  California  and  the  Sandwich  islands.  In  a  few 
months  after  his  return  to  Ross,  he  prepared  to  return  home-by 
the  sea  of  China,  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  his  way,  he 
a  second  time  called  at  O  \Vahi  (Owhyee).  He  found  a  con- 
siderable change.  Queen  Nomahanna — who  stands  six  feet  two, 
without  shoes  or  stockings,  (for  none  from  Europe  can  she  get 
on,  and  none,  of  course,  are  made  at  home,)  and  two  ells  round, 
is  governed  by  the  missionaries,  and  the  island,  like  O  Tahaita, 
is  rapidly  going  backwards.  The  chief  charm  of  religion  seemed 
to  the  women  to  be — that  they  might  now  eat  pork  as  much  as 
they  liked,  and  not  be  confined  solely  to  dogs'  flesh.  He  met 
an  old  man  with  a  book — the  captain  inquired  if  he  was  learning 


428  THE    ROTHSAY    STEAMER. 

to  read — No,  he  was  only  making  believe,  to  please  the  Queen. 
What  is  the  use  of  B,  A,  Ba?  Will  it  make  yams  and  potatoes 
grow?  Another  old  man  was  imploring  the  Queen's  assistance 
— "  If  you  won't  learn  to  read,"  says  she,  "  you  may  go  and 
drown  yourself."  Captain  Kotzebue  in  his  passage  to  the  La- 
drones  and  Philippines,  made  some  new  discoveries,  and  visited 
St.  Helena  in  his  way  home. 


WRECK  OF  THE  ROTHSAY  CASTLE  STEAMER 

The  Rothsay  Castle  was  a  steam  packet  which  formerly  traded 
on  the  Clyde.  She  belonged  to  the  line  of  steamers  which  sailed 
from  Liverpool  to  Beaumaris  and  Bangor,  and  was  furnished  with 
one  engine  only.  She  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Atkinson. 
At  ten  o'clock  on  the  —  of  August,  1831, — the  vessel  was  appoint- 
ed to  sail  from  the  usual  place,  George's  Pierhead,  but  a  casual 
delay  took  place  in  starting,  and  it  was  eleven  o'clock  before  she 
had  got  every  thing  in  readiness.  Whilst  taking  passengers  on 
board,  a  carriage  arrived  at  the  Pierhead  for  embarkation.  It  be- 
longed to  M.  W.  Foster,  Esq.  of  Regent's  park,  London,  who, 
with  his  wife  and  servant,  were  conveyed  in  it  to  the  packet,  and 
took  their  passage  at  the  same  time.  They  were  all  subsequently 
drowned,  a  little  dog  which  accompanied  them  being  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  this  unfortunate  group.  When  the  steamer  left  the  Pier- 
head her  deck  was  thronged  with  passengers.  The  captain,  crew, 
musicians,  &c.  amounted  to  fifteen,  in  addition  to  whom,  it  was 
supposed  by  persons  who  saw  the  vessel  sail  that  one  hundred 
and  ten  or  one  hundred  and  twenty  souls  were  on  board.  The 
majority  of  the  passengers  consisted  of  holyday  and  family  parties, 
chiefly  from  country  places;  and  in  one  of  these  companies,  who 
came  on  a  journey  of  pleasure  from  Bury,  the  hand  of  death  com- 
mitted a  merciless  devastation.  It  consisted  of  twenty-six  per- 
sons; in  the  morning,  joyous  with  health  and  hilarity,  they  sat 
out  upon  the  waves,  and  when  the  shades  of  that  evening  approach- 
ed, every  soul  but  two  saw  his  last  of  suns  go  down. 

The  weather  was  not  particularly  boisterous  at  the  time  she 
sailed.  A  severe  storm  however,  had  raged  in  the  morning  and 
must  have  agitated  the  water  on  the  Banks  more  than  usual. 
The  wind  too,  blew  strongly  from  the  north-west,  and  tbe  vessel 
had  to  contend  with  the  tide,  which  began  to  flow  soon  after  she 
passed  the  rock.  When  the  steamer  arrived  off  the  Floating-light, 
which  is  stationed  about  fifteen  miles  from  Liverpool,  the  rough- 
ness of  the  sea  alarmed  many  of  the  passengers.— -One  of  the  sur- 
vivors stated,  that  Mr.  Tarry,  of  Bury,  who,  with  his  family,  con- 


THE    ROTHSAY    STEAMER.  429 

sisting  of  himself,  his  wife,  their  five  children,  and  servant,  was 
on  board,  being,  in  common  with  others,  greatly  alarmed  lor  his 
own  safety  and  the  safety  of  those  dear  to  him,  went  down  to  the 
cabin,  where  the  captain  was  at  dinner,  and  requested  him  to  put 
back.  His  reply  was,  "  1  think  there  is  a  great  deal  of  fear  on 
board,  and  very  little  danger.  If  we  were  to  turn  back  with 
passengers,  it  would  never  do — we  should  have  no  profit."  To 
another  gentleman  who  urged  him  to  put  back,  he  is  reported  to 
have  said  very  angrily,  "  I'm  not  one  of  those  that  turn  back." 
He  remained  in  the  cabin  two  whole  hours,  and  peremptorily  re- 
fused to  comply  with  the  repeated  requests  made  to  him  by  the 
more  timid  of  his  passengers  to  return  to  Liverpool;  observing 
that  if  the  v  knew  him,  they  would  not  make  the  request.  Before 
dinner,  his  behavior  had  been  perfectly  unexceptionable;  but, 
after  he  had  dined,  a  very  striking  difference  was  observed  in  his 
conduct.  He  became  violent  in  his  manner,  and  abusive  in  his 
language  to  the  men.  When  anxiously  questioned  by  the  passen- 
gers, as  to  the  progress  the  vessel  was  making,  and  the  time  at 
which  she  was  likely  to  reach  her  destination,  he  returned  trifling, 
and  frequently  very  contradictory  answers.  During  the  early  part 
of  the  voyage,  he  had  spoken  confidently  of  being  able  to  reach 
Beaumaris  by  seven  o'clock;  but  the  evening  wore  away,  night 
came  on,  and  the  vessel  was  still  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  termination  of  her  voyage.  It  was  near  twelve  o'clock  when 
they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Menai  Strait,  which  is  about  five 
miles  from  Beaumaris.  The  tide,  which  had  been  running  out  of 
the  strait,  and  which  had,  consequently,  for  some  time  previous 
retarded  the  steamer's  progress  towards  her  destination,  was  just 
on  the  turn.  The  vessel,  according  to  the  statement  of  two  of  the 
seamen  and  one  of  the  firemen  saved,  had  got  round  the  buoy  on 
the  north  end  of  the  Dutchman's  Bank,  and  had  proceeded  up 
the  river  as  far  as  the  tower  on  Puffin  Island;  when  suddenly  the 
steam  got  so  l6w  that  the  engine  would  not  keep  her  on  her  proper 
course.  When  asked,  why  there  was  not  steam  on,  the  fireman 
said,  that  a  deal  of  water  had  been  finding  its  way  into  the  vessel 
all  day,  and  that  sometime  before  she  got  into  the  strait,  the  bilge- 
pumps  were  choked.  The  water  in  the  hold  then  overflowed  the 
coals;  so  that,  in  renewing  the  fires,  a  deal  of  water  went  in  with 
the  coals,  slackened  the  fires,  and  made  it  impossible  to  keep  the 
steam  up.  It  was  clearly  the  duty  of  the  fireman  to  give  notice 
of  this  occurrence;  but  he  seems  not  to  have  mentioned  it  to  the 
captain.  The  vessel,  which  had  evidently  come  fair  into  the 
channel,  though  there  was  no  light  on  the  coast  to  guide  her,  now 
drifted,  with  the  ebb  tide  and  north-west  wind,  towards  the  Dutch- 
man's Bank,  on  the  north  point  of  which  she  struck,  her  bows  stick- 
ing fast  in  the  sand.  Lieutenant  Atkinson  immediately  ordered 
the  man  at  the  helm  to  put  the  helm  a  starboard.  The  man  refused 
to  do  so;  but  put  it  to  port.  The  mate,  perceiving  this,  ran  aft, 


430  THE  ROTHSAY  STEAMER. 

took  the  helm  from  the  man,  and  put  it  to  starboard  again. — In  the 
meantime,  the  captain  and  some  of  the  passengers  got  the  jib  up. 
No  doubt  he  did  this  intending  to  wear  her  round  and  bring  her 
head  to  the  northward;  but  in  the  opinion  of  nautical  men,  it 
could  not  make  the  least  difference  which  way  her  head  was  turn- 
ed, as  she  was  on  a  lee  shore,  and  there  was  no  steam  to  work 
her  off.  The  captain  also  ordered  the  passengers  first  to  run  aft, 
in  the  hope,  by  removing  the  pressure  from  the  vessel's  stem,  to 
make  her  float:  this  failing  to  produce  the  desired  effect,  he  then 
ordered  them  to  run  forward.  All  the  exertions  of  the  captain, 
the  crew  and  the  passengers  united  were  unavailing.  The  ill- 
fated  vessel  stuck  still  faster  in  the  sands,  and  all  gave  them- 
selves up  for  lost.  The  terror  of  the  passengers  became  excessive. 
Several  of  them  urged  the  captain  to  hoist  lights,  and  make  other 
signals  of  distress;  but  he  positively  refused  to  do  so,  assuring 
the  passengers  that  there  was  no  danger,  and  telling  them  several 
times,  that  the  packet  was  afloat,  and  doing  well,  and  on  her  way; 
when  the  passengers  knew  perfectly  well  that  she  was  sticking 
fast  in  the  sand,  and  her  cabins  rapidly  filling  with  water.  Doubt- 
less the  unfortunate  man  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  imminence  of 
the  danger;  but  we  may  charitably  suppose,  that  he  held  such 
language  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  alarm  which  might  be  fatal. 
The  alarm  bell  was  now  rung  with  so  much  violence  that  the  clap- 
per broke,  and  some  of  the  passengers  continued  to  strike  it  for 
some  time  with  a  stone.  The  bell  was  heard,  it  is  said,  at  Beau- 
maris,  but,  as  there  was  no  light  hoisted  on  the  mast  of  the  steamer, 
(a  fatal  neglect!)  those  who  heard  the  signal  were,  of  course,  igno- 
rant whence  it  proceeded.  The  weather,  at  this  awful  moment, 
was  boisterous,  but  perfectly  clear.  The  moon,  though  slightly 
overcast,  threw  considerable  light  on  the  surrounding  objects. — But 
a  strong  breeze  blew  from  the  north-west,  the  tide  began  to  set  in 
with  great  strength,  and  a  heavy  sea  beat  over  the  bank  on  which 
the  steam  packet  was  now  firmly  and  immovably  fixed. 

We  cannot  describe  the  scene  which  followed.  Certain  death 
seemed  now  to  present  itself  to  all  on  board,  and  the  most  affecting 
scenes  were  exhibited.  The  females,  in  particular,  uttered  the 
most  piercing  shrieks;  some  locked  themselves  in  each  others 
arms,  while  others,  losing  all  self-command,  tore  off  their  caps 
and  bonnets,  in  the  wildness  of  despair.  A  Liverpool  pilot,  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  packet,  now  raised  his  voice  and  exclaimed, 
"It  is  all  over — we  are  all  lost  !"  At  these  words  there  was  a 
universal  despairing  shriek.  The  women  and  children  collected 
in  a  knot  together,  and  kept  embracing  each  other,  keeping  up, 
all  the  time,  the  most  dismal  lamentations.  When  tired  with 
crying  they  lay  against  each  other,  with  their  heads  reclined,  like 
inanimate  bodies.  The  steward  of  the  vessel  and  his  wife,  who 
was  on  board,  lashed  themselves  to  the  mast,  determined  to  spend 
their  last  moments  in  each  other's  arms.  Several  husbands  and 


THE    ROTHSAY    STEAMER.  431 

wives  also  met  their  fate  locked  in  each  other's  arms;  whilst 
parents  clung  to  their  beloved  children, — several  mothers  it  is  said, 
having  perished  with  their  dear  little  ones  firmly  clasped  in  their 
arms.  A  party  of  the  passengers,  about  fifteen  or  twenty,  lowered 
the  boat  and  crowded  into  it.  It  was  impossible  for  any  open 
boat  to  live  in  such  a  sea,  even  though  not  overloaded,  and  she 
immediately  swamped  and  went  to  the  bottom,  with  all  who  had 
made  this  last  hopeless  effort  for  self-preservation. 

For  some  time  the  vessel,  though  now  irrecoverably  lost,  con- 
tinued to  resist  the  action  of  the  waves,  and  the  despairing  souls 
on  board  still  struggled  with  their  doom.  But  hope  had  forever 
fled;  the  packet  was  beaten  and  tossed  about  by  the  tumultuous 
waters  with  a  violence  which  threatened  to  dash  her  into  fragments 
at  every  shock,  and  the  sea  now  made  a  continual  breach  over 
her.  The  decks  were  repeatedly  swept  by  the  boiling  ocean,  and 
each  billow  snatched  its  victims  to  a  watery  grave.  The  unfor- 
tunate captain  and  his  mate  were  among  the  first  that  perished. 
About  thirty  or  forty  passengers  were  standing  upon  the  poop 
clinging  to  each  other  in  hopeless  agony,  and  occasionally  uttering 
the  most  piteous  ejaculations.  Whilst  trembling  thus  upon  the 
brink  of  destruction,  and  expecting  every  moment  to  share  the  fate 
which  had  already  overtaken  so  many  of  their  companions  in 
misery,  the  poop  was  discovered  to  give  way;  another  wave  roll- 
ed on  with  impetuous  fury,  and  the  hinder  part  of  the  luckless 
vessel,  with  all  who  sought  safety  in  its  frail  support,  was  burst 
away  from  its  shattered  counterpart,  and  about  forty  wretched 
beings  hurried  through  the  foaming  flood  into  an  eternal  world. 

"  Then  rose  from  sea  to  sky  the  wild  farewell, 
Then  shrieked  the  timid,  and  stood  still  the  brave." 

Those  who  retained  any  degree  of  sensibility  endeavored  to 
catch  at  whatever  was  floating  within  their  reach,  with  the  vain 
hope  of  prolonging  their  lives,  though  it  was  certain  that  life 
could  only  lengthen  their  sufferings.  Many  grasped  with  frantic 
despair,  at  the  slightest  object  they  could  find,  but  were  either  too 
weak  to  retain  their  hold,  or  were  forced  to  relinquish  their  grasp 
by  the  raging  of  the  surge.  The  rudder  was  seized  by  eight  of 
the  sinking  creatures  at  the  same  time,  and  some  of  them,  were 
ultimately  preserved.  The  number  of  those  who  clung  to  the 
portion  of  the  wreck  which  remained  upon  the  bank  gradually 
grew  thinner  and  thinner,  as  they  sunk  under  their  fatigues,  or 
were  hurled  into  the  deep  by  the  remors'eless  waves.  At  length, 
about  an  hour  and  a  half  from  the  time  A^hen  she  struck,  the  rem- 
nant of  the  Rothsay  Castle  disappeared  from  the  bosom  of  the 
ocean,  and  the  remainder  of  her  passengers  and  crew  were  pre- 
cipitated into  the  foaming  abyss. 


NARRATIVE  OF  CAPTAIN  W.  L.  CAZNEAU. 


NARRATIVE  OF  CAPTAIN  W.  L.  CAZNEAU. 

The  Brig  Polly,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  tons  burden,  sailed 
from  JBoston,  with  a  cargo  of  lumber  and  provisions,  on  a  voyage 
to  Santa  Croix,  on  the  12th  of  December  1811,  under  the"com- 
mand  of  captain  W.  L.  Cazneau — with  a  mate,  four  seamen  and 
a  cook;  Mr.  I.  S.  Hunt  and  a  negro  girl  of  nine  years  of  age, 
passengers.  Nothing  material  happened  until  the  15th,  when 
they  had  cleared  cape  Cod,  the  shoal  of  Georges,  and  nearly,  as 
they  supposed,  crossed  the  gulf  stream,  when  there  came  on  a 
violent  gale  from  the  south-east,  in  which  the  brig  labored  very 
hard,  which  produced  a  leak  that  so  gained  on  the  pumps  as  to 
sound  nearly  six  feet, — when  about  midnight  she  was  upset,  and 
Mr.  Hunt  washed  overboard!  Not  having  any  reason  to  hope 
for  her  righting,  by  much  exertion  the  weather  lanyards  were 
cut  away,  the  deck  load  having  been  before  thrown  over  and  the 
lashings  all  gone;  in  about  half  an  hour  the  mainmast  went  by 
the  board,  and  soon  after  the  foremast,  when  she  righted,  though 
full  of  water,  a  dreadful  sea  making  a  fair  breach  over  her  from 
stein  to  stern.  In  this  situation  the  night  wore  away,  and  day- 
light found  all  alive  except  the  passenger,  and  upon  close  search 
the  little  girl  was  found  clinging  to  the  skylight,  arid  so  saved 
from  drowning  in  the  cabin.  The  glass  and  grating  of  the  sky- 
light having  gone  away,  while  on  her  beam  ends,  the  little  girl 
was  drawn  through  the  openings,  but  so  much  chilled  that  she 
survived  but  a  few  hours.  In  this  situation  they  remained,  without 
fire,  as  near  as  the  captain  can  recollect,  twelve  days,  when  the 
cook,  an  Indian  from  Canton,  near  Boston,  suggested  the  opera- 
tion of  rubbing  two  sticks  together,  which  succeeded.  Very 
fortunately  the  cambose  did  not  go  overboard  with  the  deck  load  : 
this  was  got  to  windward,  a  fire  kindled  and  gome  provisions 
cooked,  which  was  the  first  they  had  tasted,  except  raw  pork, 
for  the  whole  time. — They  now  got  up  a  barrel  of  pork,  part  of 
a  barrel  of  beef,  and  one  half  barrel  of  beef.  A  small  pig  had 
been  saved  alive,  which  they  now  dressed, ~not  having  any  thing 
to  feed  it  with.  But  at  this  time  no  apprehension  was  entertained 
of  suffering  for  meat,  there  being  several  barrels  stowed  in  the 
run,  and  upwards  of  one  hundred  under  deck.  With  this  im- 
pression, the  people  used  the  provisions  very  imprudently,  till  they 
discovered  that  the  stern  post  was  gone,  and  the  gale  continuing 
lor  a  long  time,  the  barrels  had  stove,  and  their  contents  were  all 
lost  forever. 

There  happened  to  be  a  cask  of  water  lashed  on  the  quarter 
deck,  which  was  saved,  containing  about  thirty  gallons,  all  the 
rest  was  lost.  This  lasted  about  eighteen  days,  when  the  crew 


NARRATIVE  OF  CAP-TUN  W.  L.  CAZNEAU.          433 

were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  catching  what  rain  they  could,  and 
having  no  more.  At  the  end  of  forty  days  the  meat  was  ali  #one, 
and  absolute  famine  stared  them  in  the  face.  The  first  victim  to 
his  destroyer  was  Mr.  Paddock,  the  mate,  whose  exquisite  Jis- 
ress  seemed  to  redouble  the  sufferings  of  his  companions.  He 
was  a  man  of  a  robust  constitution,  who  had  spent  his  life  in  the 
Bank  fishing,  had  suffered  many  hardships  and  appeared  the  most 
capable  of  standing  the  shocks  of  misfortune  of  any  of  the  crew. 
In  the  meridian  of  life,  being  about  thirty-five  years  old,  it  was  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that,  instead  of  the  first,  he  would  have  been 
the  last  to  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  cold  and  hunger:  but  Heaven 
ordered  it  otherwise — he  became  delirious,  and  death  relieved 
him  from  his  sufferings  the  fiftieth  day  of  his  shipwreck.  During 
all  this  time,  the  storms  continued,  and  would  often  overwhelm 
hem  so  as  to  keep  them  always  drenched  with  seawater,  having 
nothing  to  screen  them,  except  a  temporary  kind  of  cabin  which 
they  had  built  up  of  boards  between  the  windlass  and  nighthead 
on  the  larboard  side  of  the  forecastle.  The  next  who  sunk  under 
this  horrid  press  of  disasters  was  Howes,  a  young  man  of  about 
thirty,  who  likewise  was  a  fisherman,  by  profession,  and  tall, 
spare,  and  as  smart  and  active  a  seaman  as  any  aboard.  He  like- 
wise died  delirious  and  in  dreadful  distress,  six  days  after  Paddock, 
being  the  fifty-sixth  day  of  the  wreck.  It  was  soon  perceived 
that  this  must  evidently  be  the  fate  of  all  the  survivors  in  a  short 
time,  if  something  was  not  done  to  procure  water.  About  this 
time  good  luck,  or,  more  probably,  kind  Providence,  enabled  them 
to  fish  up  the  tea-kettle  and  one  of  the  captain's  pistols;  and  ne- 
cessity, the  mother  of  invention,  suggested  the  plan  of  distillation. 
Accordingly,  a  piece  of  board  was  very  nicely  fitted  to  the  mouth 
of  the  boiler,  a  small  hole  made  in  it,  and  the  tea-kettle,  bottom 
upwards,  fixed  to  the  upper  side  of  the  board,  the  pistol  barrel 
was  fixed  to  the  nose  of  the  kettle  and  kept  cool  by  the  constant 
application  of  cold  water.  This  completely  succeeded,  and  the 
survivors,  without  a  doubt,  owe  their  preservation  to  this  simple 
experiment.  But  all  that  could  be  obtained  by  this  very  imperfect 
distillation,  was  a  scanty  allowance  of  water  for  five  men;  yet  it 
would  sustain  life  and  that  was  all.  The  impression  that  there 
was  meat  enough  under  the  deck,  induced  them  to  use  every 
exertion  to  obtain  it;  but  by  getting  up  pieces  of  bone,  entirely 
bare  of  meat  and  in  a  putrid  state,  they  found  that  nothing  was 
left  for  them  but  to  rely  on  Heaven  for  food,  and  be  contented 
with  whatever  came  to  hand,  till  relief  should  come.  Their  only 
sustenance  now  was  barnacles  gathered  from  the  sides  of  the 
vessel  which  were  ate  raw  that  the  distilling  might  not  be  inter- 
rupted, which  would  give  them  no  more  than  four  wine  glasses 
of  water  each,  per  day.  The  next  food  which  they  obtained  was 
a  large  shark,  caught  by  means  of  a  running  bowline.  This  was 
a  very  great  relief  and  lasted  some  time.  Two  advantages  arose 


434  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    W.     L.    CAX.NE4U 

from  this  signal  interposition  of  kind  Providence;  for  while  thnj 
lived  upon  their  shark,  the  barnacles  were  growing  larger  and 
more  nutritive.  They  likewise  found  many  small  crabs  unions 
the  sea-weed  which  often  floated  around  the  wreck,  which  were 
very  pleasant  food.  JBut  from  the  necessity  of  chewing  them  raw 
and  sucking  out  the  nourishment,  they  brought  on  an  obstinate 
costiveness,  which  became  extremely  painful  and  probably  much 
exasperated  by  the  want  of  water. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  according  to  their  computation,  poor 
JVIoho,  the  cook,  expired,  evidently  from  want  of  water,  though 
with  much  less  distress  than  the  others  and  in  the  full  exercise 
of  his  reason:  he  very  devoutly  prayed  and  appeared  perfectly 
resigned  to  the  will  of  the  God  who  afflicted  him.  Their  constant 
study  was  directed  to  tl>e  improvement  of  their  still,  which  was 
matle  much  better  by  the  addition  of  the  other  pistol  barrel,  which 
was  found  by  fishing  with  the  grain  they  made  by  fixing  nails  into 
a  piece  of  a  stave.  With  this  barrel  they  so  far  perfected  the 
still  as  to  obtain  eight  junk  bottles  full  of  water  in  twenty  fom 
hours.  But  from  the  death  of  Moho  to  the  death  of  Johnson, 
which  happened  about  the  middle  of  April,  they  seemed  to  be 
denied  every  kind  of  food.  The  barnacles  were  all  gone,  and  no 
friendly  gale  wafted  to  their  side  the  sea-weed  from  which  they 
could  obtain  crabs  or  insects — It  seemed  as  if  all  hope  was  gone 
forever,  and  they^had  nothing  before  them  but  death,  or  the 
horrid  alternative  of  eating  the  flesh  of  their  dead  companion 
One  expedient  was  left,  that  was  to  try  to  decoy  a  shark,  if 
happily  there  might  be  one  about  the  wreck,  by  part  of  the  corpse 
of  their  shipmate!  This  succeeded,  and  they  caught  a  large 
shark,  and  from  that  time  had  many  fish  till  their  happy  deliver- 
ance. Very  fortunately,  a  cask  of  nails  which  was  on  deck, 
lodged  in  the  lea  scuppers  while  on  their  beam  ends:  with  these 
they  were  enabled  to  fasten  the  shingles  on  their  cabin,  which  by 
constant  improvement,  had  become  much  more  commodious,  and 
when  reduced  to  two  only,  they  had  a  better  supply  of  water. 

They  had  now  drifted  above  two  thousand  miles  and  were  in 
latitude  28  North  and  longitude  13  West,  when  to  their  unspeak- 
able joy  they  saw  three  ships  bearing  down  upon  them.  The 
ships  came  as  near  as  was  convenient,  and  then  hailed,  which 
Captain  Cazneau  answered  with  all  the  force  of  his  lungs.  The 
ship  which  hailed  proved  to  be  the  Fame  of  Hull,  Captain  Feath- 
erstone  bound  from  Rio  Janeiro  home.  It  so  happened  that  the 
three  Captains  had  dined  together  that  day  and  were  all  on  board 
the  Fame.  Humanity  immediately  sent  a  boat,  which  put  an  end 
to  the  dreadful  thraldom  of  Captain  Cazneau  and  Samuel  Badger, 
the  only  surviving  persons,  who  were  re.ceived  by  these  humane 
Englishmen  with  exalted  sensibility.  Thus  was  ended  the  most 
shocking  catastrophe  which  our  naval  history  has  recorded  for 
many  years,  after  a  series  of  distresses  from  December  15th  to 


NEW    YORK    AND    ITS    ENVIRONS.  435 

the  20th  of  June,  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  one  days! 
Every  attention  was  paid  to  the  sufferers  that  generosity  warmed 
with  pity  and  fellow  feeling  could  dictate,  on  board  the  Fame. 
They  were  cherished,  comforted,  fed,  clothed  and  nursed  until 
the  9th  of  July,  when  they  fell  in  with  Captain  Perkins,  of  the 
brig  Dromo,  in  the  chops  of  the  channel  of  England,  who  gene- 
rously took  them  on  board  and  carefully  perfected  the  work  of 
goodness  begun  by  the  generous  Englishmen,  and  safely  landed 
them  in  Kennebunk. 

It  is  natural  to  inquire  how  they  could  float  such  a  vast  dis- 
tance upon  the  most  frequented  part  of  the  Atlantic  and  not  be 
discovered  all  this  time?  They  were  passed  by  more  than  a 
dozen  sail,  one  of  which  came  so  nigh  them  that  they  could 
distinctly  see  the  people  on  deck  and  on  the  rigging  looking  at 
them:  but  to  the  inexpressible  disappointment  of  the  starving  and 
freezing  men,  they  stifled  the  dictates  of  compassion, hoisted  sail, 
and  cruelly  abandoned  them  to  their  fate. 


NEW  YORK  AND  ITS  ENVIRONS. 

There  are  few  spectacles  at  once  more  grateful  and  more 
magnificent  to  the  weary  wanderer  over  the  ocean,  than  that 
which  rises  up  before  him,  like  a  lovely  dream,  as  he  passes  the 
Narrows,  and  is  wafted  by  fair  breezes  towards  the  city  of  New 
York.  The  green  shores  of  Long  and  Staten  Islands,  within  less 
than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  each  other,  slope  down  to  the  water's 
ecjge,  and  form  the  gates  of  the  harbor.  When  "  radiant  summer 
opens  all  her  pride,"  they  are  clothed  with  the  luxuriant  harvest, 
and  dotted  with  dwellings  of  peace  and  plenty.  A  vast  city  with 
its  bristling  forest  of  masts  and  spires,  rises  suddenly  in  the  dis- 
tance, sending  forth  the  hum  of  more  than  two  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants.  He  inhales  the  mingled  perfumes  which  the  wind 
bears  from  wood  and  field,  from  valleys  of  clover,  and  gardens  of 
flowers.  Immense  steamboats,  superior  to  any  other  in  the  world, 
plough  the  waters  around  him,  and  shape  their  steady  course  in 
different  directions;  and  ships,  with  white  sails  spread,  are  return- 
ing, storm-beaten,  from  their  perilous  voyages,  or  hurrying  forth, 
through  the  narrow  outlet,  to  distant  quarters  of  the  globe.  Forts 
command  the  prominent  stations,  and  vessels  of  war,  like  castles, 
are  resting  on  the  wave. 

Perhaps  no  situation  could  be  chosen  for  a  more  advantageous 
survey  of  the  city,  with  its  surrounding  scenery,  than  that  part 
of  the  Bay  adjoining  Governor's  Island,  and  near  the  fort,  a  per- 


436 


NEW    YORK    AND    ITS    ENVIRONS. 


tion  of  which   appears  on  the  extreme   left  of  the  picture,  and 
whence  the  present  view  was  taken. 

The  opening  discernible  on  the  right,  is  the  passage  termed 
the  East  River,  leading  from  the  Bay  into  the  Sound,  between 
Long  and  York  Islands,  and  thence  along  the  shores  of  Connec- 
ticut and  Rhode  Island,  into  the  Atlantic.  The  eye  can  almost 
pierce  to  that  point  "of  the  strait  entitled  Hurl  Gate,  but,  by  the 
lovers  of  the  marvellous,  dignified  with  an  appellation  which 
would  seem  to  conduct  the  traveller  into  a  region  of  a  very 
different  description  from  the  pleasant  hills  and  orchards,  the 
costly  dwellings,  and  the  humble  but  bright  looking  cottages,  that 
make  the  banks  of  this  stream  a  succession  of  charming  pictures. 


View  of  New-York. 


The  small  promontory  jutting  out  on  the  eastern  side,  repre- 
sents that  part  of  Long  Island  occupied  by  the  village  of  Brooklyn 
and  the  Navy  Yard. 

On  the  left,  the  eye  seeks  to  explore  the  windings  of  the  Hud- 
son or  North  River.  In  many  respects  this  stream  may  be 
considered  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  world.  It  is  aflected 
by  the  tide  more  than  a  hundred  and  sixty  miles  towards  its  source. 
Its  steamboat  navigation  is  unobstructed,  and  it  presents  facilities 
for  commerce  of  an  extraordinary  and  tempting  nature.  The 
magnificent  canal,  which  strikes  it  at  Albany,  connects  the  city 
of  iVew  York  with  Lake  Erie,  and  thence  with  the  interior  ana 
most  western  portion  of  the  Union.  This  stupendous  work 
which  directly  augments  the  prosperity  of  more  than  two  millions 
of  people,  is  but  a  single  branch  in  the  vast  plan  of  internal  im- 


NARRVTIVE    OF     CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  437 

provement,  of  which  Dewitt  Clinton  was  the  most  influential 
pr  moter,  and  whi':h  equally  associates  his  name  with  the  glory 
of  the  state,  and  the  increasing  importance  of  the  city. 

At  all  times  the  view  of  the  metropolis  of  the  State  is  imposing; 
but  should  the  stranger  approach  it  at  the  close  of  a  pleasant 
summer  day,  he  would  find  the  scene  yet  more  enchanting.  At 
this  period  the  bustle  of  business  is  superseded  by  the  voice  of 
pleasure.  As  he  draws  near  the  Battery,  he  perceives  that  the 
fort  has  changed  its  martial  character,  and  been  metamorphosed 
into  a  garden  and  pleasant  promenade.  The  stillness  of  the 
evening  is  sometimes  broken  by  the  sound  of  the  rushing  rocket, 
as  it  darts  into  the  spangled  heaven,  illuminating  the  scene  with  a 
glare  of  temporary  radiance,  and  sometimes  by  bursts  of  music, 
softened  by  the  distance,  as  it  floats  over  the  placid  water.  Now 
you  may  hear  the  drum  from  Governor's  Island,  and  now  the 
song  of  the  sailor  from  the  distant  ship,  which  is  preparing 
again  to  encounter  the  perils  of  the  deep;  while  the  regular  dash 
of  the  oar,  as  some  occasional  boat  glides  by,  adds  to  the  charm 
of  the  music,  and  increases  the  interest  of  the  scene. 


NARRATIVE   OF   CAPTAIN   LINCOLN. 

I  have  reluctantly  yielded  to  the  urgent  solicitation  of  friends, 
to  give  a  short  narrative  of  the  capture,  sufferings  and  escape  of 
myself  and  crew,  after  having  been  taken  by  a  piratical  schooner, 
called  the  Mexican,  December,  1821.  The  peculiar  circum- 
stances attending  our  situation,  gave  us  ample  opportunity  for 
learning  the  character  of  those  cruisers  which  have  lately  infested 
our  southern  coasts,  destroying  the  lives  and  plundering  the 
property  of  so  many  peaceable  traders.  If  this  narrative  should 
effect  any  good,  or  urge  our  government  to  still  more  vigorous 
measures  for  the  protection  of  our  commerce,  my  object  will  be 
attained 

I  sniled  from  Boston  bound  for  Trinidad,  in  the  island  of  Cuba, 
on  the  13th  November,  1821,  in  the  schooner  Exertion,  bur- 
den one  hundred  and  seven  tons,  owned  by  Messrs.  Joseph 
Ballisler  and  Henry  Farnam,  with  a  crew  consisting  of  the 
following  persons:  — 

Joshua  Bracket,       mate,  Bristol, 

David  Wa.ren,         cook,          Saco, 

*The  remier  will  probably  rerollect  the  alarming  number  of  piracies,  which  took  place  in 
the  West  India,,  ?Pav  durinir  the  years  1821-18-35.  "Captain  Lincoln's  narrative  will  be  found 
to  convey  a  full  and  correct  idea  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  the^e  depredations  ;  and  the 
striki'in  !nte  en  >f  his  account  will  be  considered  a  sufficient  apology  for  the  space  we  hav* 
afforded  it. 

37  * 


438  NARRATIVE    OF     CAPTAIN    LINCOLN". 

Thomas  Goodall,     seaman,     Baltimore, 
Thomas  Young,  Orangetown, 

Francis  de  Suze,  "  St.  John's, 

George  Reed,  Greenock,  Scotland. 

The  cargo  consisted  of  ffour,  beef,  pork,  lard,  butter,  fish, 
beans,  onions,  potatoes,  apples,  hams,  furniture,  sugar  box 
shooks,  &c.  invoiced  at  about  eight  thousand  dollars.  iVothing 
remarkable  occurred  during  the  passage,  except  much  bad  weath- 
er, until  my  capture,  which  was  as  follows: — 

Monday,  December  17th,  1821,  commenced  with^  fine  breezes 
from  the  eastward.  At  daybreak  saw  some  of  the  islands  north- 
ward of  Cape  Cruz,  called  Keys — stood  along  northwest;  every 
thing  now  seemed  favorable  for  a  happy  termination  of  our  voyage. 
At  three  o'clock,  P.  M.  saw  a  sail  coming  round  one  of  the  Keys, 
into  a  channel  called  Boca  de  Cavolone  by  the  chart,  nearly  in 
latitude  20°  55'  north,  longitude  79°  55'  west,  she  made  directly 
for  us  with  all  sail  set,  sweeps  on  both  sides  (the  wind  being  light) 
and  was  soon  near  enough  for  us  to  discover  about  forty  men  on 
her  deck,  armed  with  muskets,  blunderbusses,  cutlasses,  long 
knives,  dirks,  &c.  two  carronades,  one  a  twelve,  the  other  a  six 
pounder;  she  was  a  schooner,  wearing  the  Patriot  flag,  (blue, 
white  and  blue)  of  the  Republic  of  Mexico.  I  thought  it  not 
prudent  to  resist  them,  should  they  be  pirates,  with  a  crew  of 
seven  men,  and  only  five  muskets;  accordingly  ordered  the  arms 
and  ammunition  to  be  immediately  stowed  away  in  as  secret  a 
place  as  possible,  and  suffer  her  to  speak  us,  hoping  and  be- 
lieving that  a  republican  flag  indicated  both  honor  and  friendship 
from  those  who  wore  it,  arid  which  we  might  expect  even  from 
Spaniards.  But  how  great  was  my  astonishment,  when  the 
schooner  having  approached  very  near  us,  hailed  in  English,  and 
ordered  me  to  heave  my  boat  out  immediately  and  come  on  board 
of  her  with  my  papers. — Accordingly  my  boat  was  hove  out,  but 
filled  before  I  could  get  into  her. — I  was  then  ordered  to  tack 
ship  and  lay  by  for  the  pirates'  boat  to  board  me;  which  was  done 
by  Bolidar,  their  first  lieutenant,  with  six  or  eight  Spaniards  armed 
with  as  many  of  the  before  mentioned  weapons  as  they  could  well 
sling  about  their  bodies.  They  drove  me  into  the  boat  and  two 
of  them  rowed  me  to  their  privateer,  (as  they  called  their  vessel,) 
where  I  shook  hands  with  her  commander,  Captain  Jonnia,  a 
Spaniard,  who  before  looking  at  my  papers,  ordered  Bolidar,  his 
lieutenant,  to  follow  the  Mexican  in,  back  of  the  Key  they  had 
left,  which  was  done.  At  six  o'clock,  P.  M.  the  Exertion  was 
anchored  in  eleven  feet  water,  near  their  vessel,  and  an  island, 
which  they  called  Twelve  League  Key,  (called  by  the  chart  Key 
Largo,)  about  thirty  or  thirty -five  leagues  from  Trinidad.  After 
this  strange  conduct  they  began  examining  my  papers  by  a  Scotch- 
man who  went  by  the  name  of  JNickola,  their  sailing  master. — 
He  bpyk«  good  .English,  'had  a  uountenanee  rather  pleasing, 


NARRATIVE    OF     CAPTAIN    LIXCOI  N.  439 

although  his  beard  and  mustachios  had  a  frightful  appearance — 
his  face,  apparently  full  of  anxiety,  indicated  something  in  my 
favor;  he  gave  me  my  papers  saying  '•  take  good  care  of  them, 
for  I  am  afraid  that  you  have  fallen  into  bad  hands."  The  pirate's 
boat  was  then  sent  to  the  Exertion  with  more  men  and  arms; 
a  part  of  them  left  on  board  her;  the  rest  returning  with  three  of 
my  crew  to  their  vessel;  viz.  Thomas  Young,  Thomas  Goodall, 
and  George  Reed — they  treated  them  with  something  to  drink, 
and  offered  them  equal  shares  with  themselves,  and  some  money, 
if  they  would  enlist,  but  they  could  not  prevail  on  them.  I  then 
requested  permission  to  go  on  board  my  vessel  which  was  granted, 
and  further  requested  Nickola  should  go  with  me,  but  was  re- 
fused by  the  captain,  who  vociferated  in  a  harsh  manner,  "  No, 
JVo,  JVo,"  accompanied  with  a  heavy  stamp  upon  the  deck. 
When  I  got  on  board,  I  was  iuvitelf  below  by  Bolidar,  where  I 
found  they  had  emptied  the  case  of  liquors,  and  broken  a  cheese 
to  pieces  and  crumbled  it  on  the  table  and  eabin  floor;  the  pirates 
elated  with  their  prize,  (as  they  called  it,)  had  drank  so  much  as 
to  make  them  desperately  abusive.  I  was  permitted  to  lie  down 
in  my  birtli ;  but  reader,  if  you  have  ever  been  awakened  by  a 
gang  of  armed  desperadoes,  who  have  taken  possession  of  your 
habitation  in  the  midnight  hour,  you  can  imagine  my  feelings. — 
Sleep  was  a  stranger  to  me,  and  -anxiety  was  my  guest.  Bolidar, 
however,  pretended  friendship,  and  flattered  me  with  the  prospect 
of  being  soon  set  at  liberty.  But  I  found  him,  as  I  suspected,  a 
consummate  hypocrite;  indeed,  his  very  looks  indicated  it.  He 
was  a  stout  and  well  built  man,  of  a  dark,  swarthy  complexion,  with 
keen,  ferocious  eyes,  huge  whiskers,  and  beard  under  his  chin 
and  on  his  lips  four  or  five  inches  long;  he  was  a  Portuguese  by 
birth,  but  had  become  a  naturalized  Frenchman — had  a  wife,  if 
not  children,  (as  I  was  told)  in  France,  and  was  well  known 
there  as  commander  of  a  first  rate  privateer.  His  appearance 
was  truly  terrific;  he  could  talk  some  in  English,  and  had  a  most 
lion-like  voice. 

Tuesday,  18th. — Early  this  morning  the  captain  of  the  pirates 
came  on  board  the  Exertion;  took  a  look  at  the  cabin-stores, 
and  cargo  in  the  state  rooms,  and  then  ordered  me  back  with  him 
to  his  vessel,  where  he,  with  his  crew,  held  a  consultation  for 
some  time,  respecting  the  cargo.  After  which,  the  interpreter, 
Nickola,  told  me  that  "  the  captain  had  or  pretended  to  have  a 
commission  under  General  Traspelascus,  commander  in  chief  of 
the  republic  of  Mexico,  authorizing  him  to  take  all  cargoes  what- 
ever of  provisions,  bound  to  any  Spanish  royalist  port — that  my 
cargo  being  bound  to  an  enemy's  port,  must  be  condemned;  but 
that. the  vessel  should  be  given  up  and  be  put  into  a  fair  channel 
for  Trinidad  where  I  was  bound."  I  requested  him  to  examine 
the  papers  thtoroughlyf*  and  perhaps  he  would  be  convinced  to 
the  contrary,  and  told  him  my  cargo  was  all  American  property 


440  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN     LINCOLN. 

taken  in  at  Boston  and  consigned  to  an  American  gentleman, 
agent  at  Trinidad.  But  the  captain  would  not  take  this  trouble, 
but  ordered  both  vessels  under  way  immediately,  and  commenced 
beating  up  amongst  the  Keys  through  most  of  the  day,  the 
wind  being  very  light.  They  now  sent  their  boats  on  board 
the  Fxertion  for  stores,  and  commenced  plundering  her  of  bread, 
butter,  )ard.  onions,  potatoes,  fish,  beans,  &.c.  took  up  some 
sugar  box  shocks  that  were  on  deck,  and  found  the  barrels 
of  apples;  selected  the  best  of  them,  and  threw  the  rest  over- 
board. They  inquired  for  spirits,  wine,  cider,  &c.  and  were  told 
"they  had  already  taken  alt  that  was  on  board."  But  not  satis- 
fied they  proceeded  to  search  the  state  rooms  and  forecastle, 
ripped  up  the  floor  of  the  latter  and  found  some  boxes  of  bottled 
cider,  which  they  carried  to  their  vessel,  gave  three  cheers,  in  an 
exulting  manner  to  me,  and  then  began  drinking  it  with  such 
freedom,  that  a  vio'ent  quarrel  arose  between  officers  and  men, 
which  came  very  reaf  ending  in  bloodshed.  I  was  accused  of 
falsehood,  for  spying  they  had  already  got  all  the  liquors  that 
were  on  board,  and  I  thought  they  had;  the  truth  was,  1  never 
had  any^bill  of  lading  of  the  cider,  and  consequently  had  no  re- 
collection of  it?  being  on  board;  yet  it  served  them  as  an  excuse 
for  being  insolent.  In  the  evening  peace  was  restored  and  th^y 
sung  songs.  I  was  suffered  to  go  below  for  the  night,  and  they 
placed  a  gua'd  over  me,  stationed  at  the  companion  way. 

Wednesday,  19th,  commenced  with  moderate  easterly  winds, 
beating  towards  the  northeast,  the  pirate's  boats  frequently 
going  on  board  the  Exertion  for  potatoes,  fish,  beans,  butter, 
&c.  which  were  used  with  great  waste,  and  extravagance.  They 
gave  me  food  and  drink,  but  of  bad  quality,  more  particularly  the 
victuals,  which  was  wretchedly  cooked.  The  place  assigned 
me  to  eat  was  covered  with  dirt  and  vermin.  It  appeared  that 
their  great  object  was  to  hurt  my  feelings  with  threats  and  obser- 
vations, and  to  make  my  situation  as  unpleasant  as  circumstances 
would  admit.  We  came  to  anchor  near  a  Key,  called  by  them 
Bri|antine,  where  myself  and  mate  were  permitted  to  go  on 
shore,  but  were  guarded  by  several  armed,  pirates.  I  soon  re- 
turned to  the  Mexican  and  my  mate  to  the  Exertion,  with  George 
Reed  one  of  my  crew;  the  other  two  being  kept  on  board  the 
Mexican.  In  the  course  of  this  day  I  had  considerable  conver- 
sation with  Nickola,  who  appeared  well  disposed  towards  me.  He 
lamented  most  deeply  his  own  situation,  for  he  was  one  of  those 
men,  whose  early  good  impressions  were  not  entirely  effaced,  al- 
though confederated  with  guilt.  He  told  me  "those  who  had 
taken  me,  were  no  better  than  pirates,  and  their  end  would  be  the 
halter;  but,"  he  added,  with  peculiar  emotion,  "  I  will  never 
be  hung  as  a  pirate,"  showing  me  a  bottle  of  laudanum  which  he 
had  found  in  my  medicine  chest,  saying,  '^f  we  are  taken,  that 
shall  cheat  the  hangman,  before  we  are  condemned  "  I  endeav- 


NARRATIVE    OP     CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  441 

ored  to  get  it  from  him,  but  did  not  succeed.  I  then  asked  him 
how  he  came  to  be  in  such  company,  as  he  appeared  to  be  dissat- 
isfied. He  stated,  "  that  he  was  at  New  Orleans  last  summer 
out  of  employment,  and  became  acquainted  with  one  Captain 
August  Orgamar,  a  Frenchman,  who  had  bought  a  small  schoon- 
er of  about  fifteen  tons,  arid  was  going  down  to  the  bay  of  Mexico 
to  get  a  commission,  under  General  Traspelascus,  in  order  to  go 
a  privateering  under  the  patriot  flag.  Captain  Orgamar  made 
him  liberal  offers  respecting  shares,  and  promised  him  a  sailing 
master's  birth,  which  he  accepted  and  embarked  on  board  the 
schooner,  without  sufficiently  reflecting  on  the  danger  of  such 
an  undertaking.  Soon  after  she  sailed  from  Mexico;  where  they 
got  a  commission,  and  the  vessel  was  called  Mexican.  They 
made  up  a  complement  of  twenty  men,  and  after  rendering  the 
general  some  little  service,  in  transporting  his  troops  to  a  place 

called proceeded  on  a  cruise;  took  some  small  prizes  off 

Campeachy;  afterwards  came  on  the  south  coast  of  Cuba,  where 
they  took  other  small  prizes  and  the  one  which  we  Were  now  on 
board  of.  By  this  time  the  crew  were  increased  to  about  forty, 
nearly  one  half  Spaniards,  the  others  Frenchmen  and  Portuguese. 
Several  of  them  had  sailed  out  of  ports  in  the  United  States,  with 
American  protections;  but,  I  confidently  believe,  none  are  natives, 
especially  of  the  northern  states.  I  was  careful  in  examining  the 
men,  being  desirous  of  knowing  if  any  of  my  countrymen  were 
among  this  wretched  crew;  but  am  satisfied  there  were  none,  and 
my  Scotch  friend  concurred  in  the  opinion.*  And  now  with  a 
new  vessel,  which  was  the  prize  of  these  plunderers,  they  sailed 
up  Manganeil  Bay;  previously,  however,  they  fell  in  with  an 
American  schooner  from  which  they  bought  four  barrels  of  beef, 
and  paid  in  tobacco.  At  the  Bay  was  an  English  brig  belonging 
to  Jamaica,  owned  by  Mr.  John  Louden  of  that  place.  On  board 
of  this  vessel  the  Spanish  part  of  the  crew  commenced  -their 
depredations  as  pirates,  although  Captain  Orgamar  and  Nickola 
protested  against  it,  and  refused  any  participation;  but  they  per- 
sisted, and  like  so  many  ferocious  blood-hounds,  boarded  the  brig, 
plundered  the  cabin  stores,  furniture,  captain's  trunk,  &c.  took  a 
hogshead  of  rum,  one*  twelve  pound  carronade,  some  rigging  and 
sails.  One  of  them  plundered  the  chest  of  a  sailor,  who  made 
some  resistance,  so  that  the  Spaniard  took  his  cutlass  and  beat 
and  wounded  him  without  mercy.  Nickola  asked  him  "  why  he 
did  it?"  the  fellow  answered  "  I  will  let  you  know,"  and  took  up 
the  cook's  axe  and  gave  him  a  cut  on  the  head,  which  nearly  de- 
prived him  of  life.|  Then  they  ordered  Captain  Orgamar  to 
leave  his  vessel,  allowing  him  his  trunk  and  turned  him  ashore, 
to  seek  for  himself.  Nickola  begged  them  to  dismiss  him  with 

*The  Spaniards  at  Havanna  have  been  in  the  habit  of  saving  to  those  who  arrive  there, 
after  sufferins  the  horrid  abuse  of  cutting,  beating,  hanging,  robbing,  &c.  "  it  is  your  country- 
men that  do  thi*." 

|  He  showed  me  the  wound,  which  was  quite  large,  and  not  Iheu  healed. 


442  NARRATIVE    OP    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

his  cnptain,  but  no,  no,  was  the  answer;  for  they  had  no  complete 
navigator  but  him.  After  Captain  Orgamar  was  gone,  they  put 
in  his  stead  the  present  brave  (or  as  I  should  call  him  cowardly) 
Captain  Jonnia,  who  headed  them  in  plundering  the  before  men- 
tioned brig,  and  made  Bolidar  their  first  lieutenant,  and  then 
proceeded  down  among  those  Keys  or  Islands,  where  I  was  cap- 
tured. This  is  the  amount  of  what  my  friend  JNickola  told  me  of 
their  history. 

Thursday,  20th,  continued  beating  up,  wind  being  light,  the 
pirate's  boats  were  sent  to  the  Exertion  for  more  stores,  such  as 
bread,  lard,  8tc.  I  this  day  discovered  on  board  the  Mexican 
three  black  girls,  of  whom  it  is  well  to  say  no  more.  It  is  im- 
possible to  give  an  account  of  the  filthiness  of  this  crew,  and  were 
it  possible  it  would  not  be  expedient.  In  their  appearance  they 
were  terrific,  wearing  black  whiskers  and  long  beards,  the  recep- 
tacles of  dirt  and  vermin.  They  used  continually  the  most  profane 
language;  had  frequent  quarrels;  and  so  great  was  their  love  of 
gambling  that  the  captain  would  play  cards  with  the  meanest  man 
on  board.  All  these  things  rendered  them  to  me  objects  of  total 
disgust  (with  a  few  exceptions,  as  will  hereafter  appear.) — I  was 
told  they  had  a  stabbing  match,  but  a  few  days  before  I  was  taken, 
and  one  man  came  near  being  killed;  they  put  him  ashore  at  a 
fisherman's  hut  and  there  left  him  to  perish.  I  saw  the  wound. of 
another  who  had  his  nose  split  open. 

Friday,  21st. — After  laying  at  anchor  through  the  night  in  ten 
fathoms  water,  made  sail  and  stood  to  the  eastward — by  this  time 
I  was  out  of  my  reckoning,  having  no  quadrant,  charts  or  books. 
The  pirate's  boats  were  again  sent  for  stores.  The  captain  for 
the  second  time  demanded  of  rne  where  my  wine,  brandy,  &c. 
were,  I  again  told  him,  they  had  already  got  the  whole.  They 
took  the  deep  sea  line  and  some  cordage  from  the  Exertion  and 
at  night  came  to  anchor. 

Saturday,  22d. — Both  vessels  under  way  standing  to  the  east- 
ward, they  ran  the  Exertion  aground  on  a  bar,  but  after  throwing 
overboard  most  of  her  deck  load  of  shocks,  she  floated  ofF;  a  pilot 
was  sent  to  her,  and  she  was  run  into  a  narrow  creek  between 
two  keys,  where  they  moored  her  head  and  stern  along  side  the 
mangrove  trees,  sent  down  her  yards  and  topmasts,  and  covered 
her  mast  heads  and  shrouds  with>bushes  to  prevent  her  being  seen 
by  vessels  which  might  pass  that  way.  I  was  then  suffered  to  go 
on  board  my  own  vessel,  and  found  her  in  a  very  filthy  condition; 
sails  torn,  rigging  cut  to  pieces,  and  every  thing  in  the  cabin  in 
waste  and  confusion.  The  swarms  of  moschetoes  and  sand-flies 
made  it  impossible  to  get  any  sleep  or  rest.  The  pirate's  large 
boat  was  armed  and  manned  under  Bolidar,  and  sent  off  with  Id- 
lers to  a  merchant  (as  they  called  him)  by  the  name  of  Dominico, 
residing  in  a  town  called  Principe,  on  the  main  island  of  Cuba 
I  was  told  by  one  of  them  who  could  speak  English,  that  Principe 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  443 

was  a  very  large  and  populous  town,  situated  at  the  head  of  St. 
Maria,  which  was  about  twenty  miles  north  east  from  where  we 
lav,  and  the  Keys  lying  around  us  were  called  Cotton  Keys. — 
The  captain  pressed  into  his  service  Francis  de  Suze,  one  of  my 
crew,  saying  that  he  was  one  of  his  countrymen.  Francis  was 
very  reluctant  in  going,  and  said  to  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
''  I  shall  do  nothing  but  what  I  am  obliged  to  do,  and  will  not  aid 
in  the  least  to  hurt  you  or  the  vessel;  I  am  very  sorry  to  leave 
you."  He  was  immediately  put  on  duty  and  Thomas  Goodall  sent 
back  to  the  Exertion. 

Sundav,  23d. — Early  this  morning  a  large  number  of  the  pirates 
came  on  board  of  the  Exertion,  threw  out  the  long  boat,  broke 
open  the  hatches  and  took  out  considerable  of  the  cargo,  in  search 
of  rum.  gin,  Sec.  still  telling  me  "  I  had  some  and  that  they  would 
find  it,"  uttering  the  most  awful  profaneness.  In  the  afternoon 
their  boat  returned  with  a  perough,*  having  on  board  the  captain, 
his  first  lieutenant  arid  seven  men  of  a  patriot  or  piratical  vessel 
that  \vas  chased  ashore  at  Cape  Cruz  by  a  Spanish  armed  brig. 
These  seven  men  made  their  escape  in  said  boat  and,  after  four 
days,  found  our  pirates  and  joined  them;  the  remainder  of  the 
crew  being  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 

Monday,  24th — Their  boat  was  manned  and  sent  to  the  before 
mentioned  town. — I  was  informed  by  a  line  from  Nickola,  that  the 
pirates  had  a  man  on  board,  a  native  of  Principe,  who  in  the  garb 
of  a  sailor  was  a  partner  with  Dominico,  but  I  could  not  get  sight 
of  him.  This  lets  us  a  little  into  the  plans  by  which  this  atrocious 
svstem  of  piracy  has  been  carried  on.  Merchants  having  partners 
on  board  of  these  pirates  !  thus  pirates  at  sea  and  robbers  on  land 
are  associated  to  destroy  the  peaceable  trader.  The  willingness 
exhibited  by  the  seven  above-mentioned  men,  to  join  our  gang 
of  pirates,  seems  to  look  like  a  general  understanding  among 
them;  and  from  there  being  merchants  on  shore  so  base  as  to  en- 
courage the  plunder  and  vend  the  goods,  I  am  persuaded  there 
has  been  a  systematic  confederacy  on  the  part  of  these  unprinci- 
pled desperadoes,  under  cover  of  the  patriot  flag;  and  those  on 
land  are  no  better  than  those  on  the  sea.  If  the  governments  to 
whom  they  belong  know  of  the  atrocities  committed  (and  I  have 
but  little  doubt  they  do)  they  deserve  the  execration  of  all  man- 
kind. 

Tuesday,  25th. — Still  on  board  the  Exertion — weather  very 
calm  and  warm.  The  pirate's  boat  returned  from  St.  Maria,  and 
came  for  candles,  cheese,  potatoes,  &c.  they  saying  they  must 
have  them,  and  forbid  my  keeping  any  light  on  board  at  night- 
took  a  case  of  trunks  for  the  captain's  use  and  departed.  Their 
irritating  conduct  at  this  time  can  hardlv  be  imagined. 

Wednesday,  26th. — I  was  told  by  Bolidar  that  three   Spanish 

A      .-a  i  uilt  of  two  halves  of  a  large  tree  hollowed  out  and  so  put  together  as  to  carry 
..ttij  barrels. 


444  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

cruisers  were  in  search  of  them,  that  they  could  fight  two  of  them 
at  once,  (which  by  theTway  I  believe  was  not  true)  and  were  dis 
appointed  at  not  finding  them.  Same  evening  they  took  both  of 
my  boats,  and  their  own  men,  towed  their  vessel  out  of  the  creek, 
and  anchored  at  its  mouth,  to  get  rid  of  sand-flies  ;  while  they 
obliged  us  to  stay  on  deck  under  an  awning,  exposed  to  all  the 
violence  of  these  flies;  we  relieved  ourselves  in  some  measure 
by  the  burning  of  tobacco,  yhich  lasted  but  for  a  short  time. 

Thursday,  27th. — A  gang  of  the  pirates  came  and  stripped  our 
masts  of  the  green  bushes,  saying,  "  she  appeared  more  like  a 
sail  than  trees  " — took  one  barrel  of  bread  and  one  of  potatoes, 
using  about  one  of  each  every  day.  I  understood  they  were  wait- 
ing for  boats  to  take  the  cargo;  for  the  principal  merchant  had 
gone  to  Trinidad. 

Friday,  28th. — Nothing  remarkable  occurred  this  day — were 
frequently  called  upon  for  tar  and  butter,  and  junk  to  make  oakum. 
Captain  Jonnia  brought  on  board  with  him  his  new  captain  and 
officer  before  mentioned.  Again  they  asked  for  wine,  and  were 
told  as  before,  they  had  gotten  the  whole. 

Saturday,  29th. — Same  insulting  conduct  continued. — Took  off 
a  barrel  of  crackers. 

Sunday,  30th. — The  begining  of  trouble!  This  day  which 
peculiarly  reminds  Christians  of  the  high  duties  of  compassion  and 
benevolence,  was  never  observed  by  these  pirates.  This,  of 
course,  we  might  expect,  as  they  did  not  often  know  when  the  day 
came,  and  if  they  knew  it,  it  was  spent  in  gambling.  The  old 
saying  among  seamen,  "no  Sunday  off  soundings,"  was  not 
thought  of;  and  even  this  poor  plea  was  not  theirs,  for  they  were 
on  soundings  and  often  at  anchor. — Early  this  morning  the  mer- 
chant, as  they  called  him,  came  with  a  large  boat  for  the  cargo 
I  was  immediately  ordered  into  the  boat  with  my  crew,  not  allow- 
ed any  breakfast,  and  carried  about  three  miles  to  a  small  island 
out  of  sight  of  the  Exertion  and  left  there  by  the  side  of  a  little 
pond  of  thick,  muddy  water,  which  proved  to  be  very  brackish,  with 
nothing  to  eat  but  a  few  biscuit.  One  of  the  boat's  men  told  us 
the  merchant  was  afraid  of  being  recognised,  and  when  he  had 
gone  the  boat  would  return  for  us;  but  we  had  great  reason  to 
apprehend  they  would  deceive  us,  and  therefore  passed  the  day 
in  the  utmost  anxiety.  At  night,  however,  the  boats  came  and 
took  us  again  on  board  the  Exertion;  when,  to  our  surprise  and 
astonishment  we  found  they  had  broken  open  the  trunks  and  chests 
and  taken  all  our  wearing  apparel,  not  even  leaving  a  shirt  or  pair 
of  pantaloons,  nor  sparing  a  small  miniature  of  my  wife  which 
was  in  my  trunk.  The  little  money  I  and  my  mate  had,  with  some 
belonging  to  the  owners,  my  mate  had  previously  distributed  about 
the  cabin  in  three  or  four  parcels,  while  I  was  on  board  the  pirate, 
for  we  dare  not  keep  it  about  us;  one  parcel  in  a  butter  pot  they 
did  not  discover. — Amidst  the  hurry  with  which  I.  was  obliged  to 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  445 

cave  my  vessel  to  go  to  the  before  mentioned  island,  I  fortunately 
snatched  my  vessel's  papers,  and  hid  them  in  my  bosom,  which 
he  reader  will  rind  was  a  happy  circumstance  for  me.  My  writing 
desk,  with  papers,  accounts,  &c.  all  Mr.  Lord's  letters  (the  gen- 
tleman to  whom  my  cargo  was  consigned)  and  several  others  were 
taken  and  maliciously  destroyed.  My  medicine  chest,  which  I 
so  much  wanted,  was  kept  for  their  own  use.  What  their  motive 
could  be  to  take  my  papers  I  could  not  imagine,  except  they  had 
hopes  of  finding  bills  of  lading  for  some  Spaniards,  to  clear  them 
from  piracy.  Mr.  Bracket  had  some  notes  and  p^ers  of  conse- 
quence to  him,  which  shared  the  same  fate.  My  quadrant,  charts, 
books  and  some  bedding  were  not  yet  taken,  but  I  found  it  impos- 
sible to  hide  them,  and  they  were  soon  gone  from  my  sight. 

Monday,  31st. — We  complained  to  them,  expressing  the  neces- 
sity of  having  clothes  to  cover  us — but,  as  well  might  we  have  ap- 
pealed to  the  winds,  and  rather  better,  for  they  would  not  have  up- 
braided us  in  return.  The  captain,  however,  sent  word  he  would 
see  to  it,  and  ordered  their  clothes  bags  to  be  searched,  where  he 
found  some  of  our  things,  but  took  good  care  to  put  them  in  his 
own  cabin.  I  urgently  requested  him  to  give  me  the  miniature, 
but,  no  was  all  I  could  get. 

Tuesday,  January  1st,  1822. — A  sad  new  year's  day  to  me. 
Before  breakfast  orders  came  for  me  to  cut  down  the  Exertion's 
railing  and  bulwarks  on  one  side,  for  their  vessel  to  heave  out  by, 
and  clean  her  bottom.  On  my  hesitating  a  little  they  observed 
with  anger,  "  very  well  captain,  suppose  you  no  do  it  quick,  we 
do  it  for  you." — Directly  afterwards  another  boat  full  of  armed 
men  came  along  side;  they  jumped  on  deck  with  swords  drawn 
and' ordered  all  of  us  into  her  immediately;  I  stepped  below,  in 
hopes  of  getting  something  which  would  be  of  service  to  us;  but 
the  captain  hallooed,  "Go  in  the  boat  directly  or  I  will  fire  upon 
you." — Thus  compelled  to  obey,  we  Were  carried,  together  with 
four  Spanish  prisoners,  to  a  small,  low  island  or  key  of  sand  in  the 
shape  of  a  half  moon  and  partly  covered  with  mangrove  trees; 
which  was  about  one  mile  from  and  in  sight  of  my  vessel.  There 
they  left  nine  of  us,  with  a  little  bread,  flour,  fish,  lard,  a  little 
coffee  and  molasses;  two  or  three  kegs  of  water,  which  was  brack- 
ish ;  an  old  sail  for  a  covering,  and  a  pot  and  some  other  small 
articles  no  way  fit  to  cook  in.  Leaving  us  these,  which  were 
much  less  than  they  appear  in  the  enumeration,  they  pushed  off, 
saying,  "  we  will  come  to  see  you  in  a  day  or  two." — Selecting 
the  best  place,  we  spread  the  old  sail  for  an  awning;  but  no  place 
was  free  from  flies,  moschetoes,  snakes,  the  venomous  stinged 
scorpion  and  the  more  venomous  santipee.  Sometimes  they  were 
found  crawling  inside  of  our  pantaloon-^,  but  fortunately  no  injury 
was  received.  This  afternoon  the  pirates  hove  their  vessel  out 
by  the  Exertion  and  cleaned  one  side,  using  her  paints,  oil,  &c. 
for  that  purpose. — To  see  my  vessel  in  that  situation  and  to  think 

38 


446  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

of  our  prospects  was  a  source  of  the  deepest  distress.  At  night 
we  retired  to  our  tent;  but  having  nothing  but  the  cold  damp 
ground  for  a  bed,  and  the  heavy  dew  of  night  penetrating  the  old 
canvass — the  situation  of  the  island  being  fifty  miles  from  the  usual 
track  of  friendly  vessels,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  from 
Trinidad — seeing  my  owner's  property  so  unjustly  and  wantonly 
destroyed — considering  my  condition,  the  hands  at  whose  mercy 
I  was,  and  deprived  of  all  hopes,  rendered  sleep  or  rest  a  stranger 
to  QIC. 

Wednesdq^  2d.  The  pirates  hove  out  and  cleaned  the  other 
side.  She  then  commenced  loading  with  the  Exertion's  cargo, 
which  appeared  to  be  flour  and  lard.  In  the  afternoon  their  boat 
came  and  took  two  of  the  Spaniards  with  them  to  another  island 
for  water,  and  soon  after  .returned  with  four  kegs  of  poor,  un- 
wholesome water,  and  left  us,  saying  they  should  not  bring  us 
provisions  again  for  some  time;  as  they  were  going  away  with 
goods  from  the  prize,  to  be  gone  two  or  three  days."  According- 
ly they  brought  a  present  supply  of  beef,  pork,  and  a  few  potatoes, 
with  some  bedding  for  myself  and  mate.  The  mangrove  wood 
afforded  us  a  good  fire,  as  one  of  the  Spanish  prisoners  happened 
to  have  fire-works;  and  others  had  tobacco  and  paper  with  which 
we  made  cigars.  About  this  time  one  of  my  men  began  to  be 
unwell;  his  legs  and  body  swelled  considerably,  but  having  no 
medicine  I  could  not  do  much  to  relieve  him. 

Thursday,  3d.  The  pirates  had  dropped  off  from  the  Exertion, 
but  kept  their  boats  employed  in  bringing  the  cargo  from  her;  I 
supposed  it  to  be  kegs  of  lard  to  make  stowage.  They  then  got 
under  way  with  a  perough  in  tow,  both  deeply  laden,  ran  out  of 
the  harbor,  hauled  on  the  wind  to  the  eastward  till  out  of  sight 
behind  the  Keys;  leaving  a  guard  on  board  the  Exertion. 

Friday,  4th. — Commenced  with  light  winds  and  hot  sun,  saw  a 
boat  coming  from  the  Exertion,  apparently  loaded;  she  passed 
between  two  small  Keys  to  northward,  supposed  to  be  bound  for 
Cuba.  At  sunset  a  boat  came  and  inquired  if  we  wanted  any 
thing,  but  instead  of  adding  to  our  provisions,  took  away  our 
molasses,  and  pushed  off.  We  found  one  of  the  Exertion's  water 
casks,  and  several  pieces  of  plank,  which  we  carefully  laid  up, 
in  hopes  of  getting  enough  to  make  a  raft. 

Saturday,  5th. — Pirates  again  in  sight  coming  from  the  east- 
ward; they  beat  up  along  side  their  prize,  and  commenced  load- 
ing. In  the  afternoon  Nickola  came  to  us,  bringing  with  him 
two  more  prisoners,  which  they  had  taken  in  a  small  sail  boat 
coming  from  Trinidad  to  Manganeil,  one  a  Frenchman,  the  other 
a  Scotchman,  with  two  Spaniards,  who  remained  on  board  the 
pirate,  and  who  afterwards  joined  them.  The  back  of  one  of 
these  poor  fellows  was  extremely  sore,  having  just  suffered  a 
cruel  beating  from  Bolidar,  with  the  broad  side  of  a  cutlass.  It 
appeared,  that  when  the  officer  asked  him  "  where  their  money 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  447 

was,  and  how  much,"  he  answered,  "  he  was  not  certain  but  be- 
lieved they  had  only  two  ounces  of  gold" — Bolidar  furiously 
swore  he  said  "ten,"  and  not  finding  any  more,  gave  him  the 
beating.  Nickola  now  related  to  me  a  singular  fact;  which  was, 
that  the  Spanish  part  of  their  crew  were  determined  to  shoot  him; 
that  they  tied  him  to  the  mast,  and  a  man  was  appointed  for  the 
purpose;  but  Lyon,  a  Frenchmen,  his  particular  friend,  stepped 
up  and  told  them,  if  they  shot  him,  they  must  shoot  several  more; 
some  of  the  Spaniards  sided  with  him,  and  he  was  released. 
JNickola  told  me,  the  reason  for  such  treatment  was,  that  he  con- 
tinually objected  to  their  conduct  towards  me,  and  their  opinion 
was  if  he  should  escape  they  would  be  discovered,  as  he  declared 
he  would  take  no  prize  money.  While  with  us,  he  gave  me  a 
letter  written  in  great  haste,  which  contains  some  particulars  re- 
specting the  cargo; — as  follows: — 

January  4,  1822. 

SIR — We  arrived  here  this  morning,  and  before  we  came  to 
anchor,  had  five  canoes  alongside  ready  to  take  your  cargo,  part 
of  which  we  had  in;  and  as  I  heard  you  express  a  wish,  to  know 
what  they  took  out  of  her,  to  this  moment,  you  may  depend  on 
this  account  of  Jarnicson*  for  quality  and  quantity;  if  I  have  the 
same  opportunity  you  will  have  an  account  of  the  whole.  The 
villain  who  bought  your  cargo  is  from  the  town  of  Principe,  his 
name  is  Dominico,  as  to  that  it  is  all  that  I  can  learn;  they  have 
taken  your  charts  on  board  the  schooner  Mexican  and  I  suppose 
mean  to  keep  them,  as  the  other  captain  has  agreed  to  act  the 
same  infamous  part  in  the  tragedy  of  his  life.  Your  clothes  are 
here  on  board,  but  do  not  let  me  flatter  you,  that  you  will  get 
them  back;  it  may  be  so,  and  it  may  not.  Perhaps  in  your  old 
age,  when  you  recline  with  ease  in  a  corner  of  your  cottage,  you 
will  have  the  goodness  to  drop  a  tear  of  pleasure  to  the  memory 
of  him.  whose  highest  ambition  should  have  been  to  subscribe 
himself,  though  devoted  to  the  gallows,  your  friend, 

Excuse  haste.  /     NICKOLA  MONACRE. 

P.  S.     Your  answer  in  writing  when  I  come  again. 

Sunday,  6th. — The  pirates  were  under  way  at  sunrise,  with  a 
full  load  of  the  Exertion's  cargo,  going  to  Principe  again,  to  sell 
a  second  freight,  which  was  done  readily  for  cash.  I  afterwards 
heard  that  the  flour  brought  only  five  dollars  per  barrel,  when  it 
was  worth  at  Trinidad  thirteen;  so  that  the  villain  who  bought  my 
carcro  at  Principe,  made  very  large  profits  by  it. 

Monday,  7th. — The  pirates  brought  more  water,  but  being  very 
brackish,  it  was  unfit  for  use.  We  were  now  greatly  alarmed  at 
Thomas'  ill  health,  being  suddenly  attacked  with  a  pain  in  the 
head,  and  swelling  of  the  right  eye,  attended  with  derangement. 

*  This  is  the  real  name  of  ZNickola. 


413  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN     LINCOLN. 

He  however  soon  became  better;  but  his  eye  remained  swollen 
several  days  without  much  pain.  In  the  evening  we  had  some 
heavy  showers  of  rain,  and  having  no  secure  cabin,  no  sheltered 
retreat,  our  exposure  made  us  pass  a  very  uncomfortable  night. 

Tuesday,  8th. — Early  this  morning  the  pirates  in  sight  again, 
with  fore  top  sail  and  top  gallant  sail  set;  beat  up  along  side  of 
the  Exertion  and  commenced  loading;  having,  as  I  supposed,  sold 
and  discharged  her  last  freight  among  some  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Cuba.  They  appeared  to  load  in  great  haste;  and  the  song  "O 
he  oh,"  which  echoed  from  one  vessel  to  the  other,  was  distinctly 
heard  by  us.  How  wounding  was  this  to  me!  How  different 
was  this  sound  from  what  it  \vould  have  been,  had  I  been  permit- 
ted to  pass  unmolested  by  these  lawless  plunderers,  and  been 
favored  with  a  safe  arrival  at  the  port  of  rny  destination,  where 
my  cargo  would  have  found  an  excellent  sale.  Then  would  the 
"  O  he  ho,"  on  its  discharging,  have  been  a  delightful  sound  to 
me.  In  the  afternoon  she  sailed  with  the  perough  in  tow,  both 
with  a  full  load;  having  chairs,  which  was  part  of  the  cargo,  slung 
at  her  'quarters. 

Wednesday,  9th. — Very  calm  and  warm.  The  swarms  of 
moschetoes  and  flies  made  us  pass  a  very  uncomfortable  day. 
We  dug  in  the  sand  for  water,  but  were  disappointed  at  finding 
none  so  good  as  they  left  us.  In  walking  round  among  the 
bushes,  I  accidentally  discovered  a  hole  in  the  sand,  and  saw 
something  run  into  it;  curiosity  led  me  to  dig  about  it.  With  the 
help  of  Mr.  Bracket  I  found  at  the  distance  of  seven  feet  from 
its  mouth,  and  one  from  the  surface,  a  large  solitary  rat,  apparent- 
ly several  years  old;  he  had  collected  a  large  nest  of  grass  and 
leaves;  but  there  was  not  the  least  appearance  of  any  other  being 
on  the  island. 

Thursday,  10th. — No  pirates  in  sight.  The  day  was  passed  in 
anxious  suspense;  David  Warren  being  quite  sick. 

Friday,  llth. — They  came  and  hauled  along-side  of  the  Exer- 
tion, but  I  think  took  out  none  of  her  cargo:  but  had,  as  I  sup- 
posed, a  vendue  on  board,  wherein  was  sold  among  themselves, 
all  our  clothing,  books,  quadrants,  charts,  spy-glasses,  and  every 
thing  belonging  to  us  and  our  fellow  prisoners.  I  was  afterwards 
told  they  brought  a  good  price;  but  what  they  could  want  of  the 
Bible,  Prayer  Book  and  many  other  books  in  English,  was 
matter  of  astonishment  to  me. 

Saturday,  12th. — They  remained  along  side  the  Exertion;  took 
her  paints,  oil,  brushes,  &c.  and  gave  their  vessel  a  new  coat  of 
paint  all  round,  and  a  white  boot  top — took  the  perough  to 
another  key  and  caulked  her — there  was  no  appearance  of  their 
taking  any  cargo  out;  the  Exertion  however  appeared  considerably 
high  out  of  water.  About  sunset  the  pirates  went  out  of  the 
harbor  on  a  cruise. — Here  we  had  been  staying  day  after  day, 
and  exposed  night  after  night — apprehensions  for  our  safety  were 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  449 

much  increased;  what  was  to  become  of  us,  seemed  now  to  rush 
into  every  one's  mind. 

Sunday,  13th. — Deprived  of  our  good  books,  deprived  in  fact 
of  every  thing,  save  life,  and  our  ideas  respecting  our  fate  so 
gloomy,  all  tended  to  render  time,  especially  the  Lord's  day, 
burdensome  to  us.  In  the  afternoon  a  boat  came  for  cargo,  from, 
as  I  supposed,  that  villain  Dominico. 

Monday,  14th. — They  again  hove  in  sight,  and  beat  up,  as 
usual,  along-side  their  prize.  While  passing  our  solitary  island, 
they  laughed  at  our  misery  which  -was  almost  insupportable — 
looking  upon  us  as  though  we  had  committed  some  heinous 
crime,  and  they  had  not  sufficiently  punished  us;  they  hallooed  to 
us,  crying  out,  "  Captain,  Captain,"  accompanied  with  obscene 
motions  and  words,  with  which  I  shall  not  blacken  these  pages — 
yet  1  heard  no  check  upon  such  conduct,  nor  could  I  expect  it 
among  such  a  gang,  who  have  no  idea  of  subordination  on  board, 
except  when  in  chase  of  vessels,  and  even  then  but  very  little. 
My  resentment  was  excited  at  such  a  malicious  outrage,  and  I 
felt  a  disposition  to  revenge  myself,  should  fortune  ever  favor  me 
with  an  opportunity.  It  was  beyond  human  nature  not  to  feel 
and  express  some  indignation  at  such  treatment. — Soon  after, 
Bolidar,  with  five  men,  well  armed,  carne  to  us;  he  having  a 
blunderbuss,  cutlass,  a  long  knife  and  pair  of  pistols — but  for 
what  purpose  did  he  come?  lie  took  me  by  the  hand  saying, 
"  Captain,  me  speak  with  you,  walk  this  way."  I  obeyed,  and 
when  we  were  at  s<ffne  distance  from  my  fellow  prisoners,  (his 
men  following)  he  said,  "  the  captain  send  me  for  your  wash." 
I  pretended  not  to  understand  what  he  meant  and  replied  i{  I  have 
no  clothes,  nor  any  soap  to  wash  with — you  have  taken  them 
all" — for  I  had  kept  my  watch  about  me,  hoping  they  would 
not  discover  it.  He  demanded  it  again  as  before;  and  was 
answered,  "  I  have  nothing  to  wash;"  this  raised  his  anger, 
and  lifting  his  blunderbuss  he  roared  out,  "  what  the  d — 1  you 
call  him  that  make  clock?  give  it  me" — I  considered  it  im- 
prudent to  contend  any  longer  and  submitted  to  his  unlawful 
demand. — As  he  was  going  off,  he  gave  me  a  small  bundle  in 
which  was  a  pair  of  linen  drawers,  sent  to  me  by  Xickola,  and  also 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks'  "  Family  Prayer  Book."  This  gave  me 
great  satisfaction. — Soon  after,  he  returned  with  his  captain^who 
had  one  arm  slung  up,  yet  with  as  many  implements  of  war,  as  his 
diminutive  wicked  self  could  conveniently  carry;  he  told  me 
(through  an  interpreter  who  was  a  prisoner)  "  that  on  his  cruise, 
he  had  fallen  in  with  two  Spanish  privateers,  and  beat  them  off; 
but  had  three  of  his  men  killed  and  himself  wounded  in  the  ar  ••<" 
— Bolidar  turned  to  me  and  said,  "  it  is  a  d — n  lie" — which  words 
proved  to  be  correct;  for  his  arm  was  not  wounded,  and  when  I 
saw  him  again,  which  was  soon  afterwards,  he  forgot  to  slm:  it 
up  He  further  told  me,  "  after  to-morrow  you  shall  go  with  your 
33* 


450  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

vessel  and  we  will  accompany  you  towards  Trinidad."  This  gave 
me  some  new  hopes,  and  why  I  could  not  tell.  They  then  left  us 
without  rendering  any  assistance. — This  night  we  got  some  rest. 

Tuesday,  15th. — The  words  "go  after  to-morrow,"  were  used 
among  our  Spanish  fellow  prisoners,  as  though  that  happy  to- 
morrow would*  never  come — in  what  manner  it  came  will  soon  be 
noticed. 

Wednesday,  16th. — One  of  their  boats  came  to  inquire  if  we 
had  seen  a  boat  pass  by  last  night,  for  their  small  sloop  sail  boat 
was  gone  and  two  men  deserted:  I  told  them  "  no" — at  heart  I 
could  not  but  rejoice  at  the  escape,  and  approve  the  deserters — I 
said  nothing,  however,  of  this  kind  to  the  pirates.  On  their 
return,  they  manned  three  of  their  boats  and  sent  them  in  different 
directions  to  search,  but  at  night  came  back  without  finding  boat 
or  men.  They  now  took  our  old  sail,  which  hitherto  had  some- 
what sheltered  us,  to  make,  as  I  supposed,  some  small  sail  for 
their  vessel.  This  rendered  our  night  more  uncomfortable  than 
before,  for  in  those  islands  the  night  dews  are  very  heavy. 

Thursday,  17th,  was  passed  with  great  impatience.  —  The 
Exertion  having  been  unmoored  and  swung  to  her  anchor,  gave 
some  hopes  of  being  restored  to  her;  but  was  disappointed. 

Friday,  18th,  commenced  with  brighter  prospects  of  liberty  than 
ever — the  pirates  were  employed  in  setting  up  our  devoted  schoon- 
er's shrouds,  stays,  &c.  My  condition  now  reminded  me  of  the 
hungry  man,  chained  in  one  corner  of  a  room,  while  at  another 
part  was  a  table  loaded  with  delicious  food  ;and  fruits,  the  srnell 
and  sight  of  which  he  was  continually  to  experience,  but,  alas!  his 
chains  were  never  to  be  loosed  that  he  might  go  and  partake — at 
almost  the  same  moment  they  were  thus  employed,  the  axe  v  as 
applied  with  the  greatest  dexterity  to  both  her  masts,  and  I  saw 
them  fall  over  the  side!  Here  fell  my  hopes — I  looked  at  my 
condition,  and  then  thought  of  home. — Our  Spanish  fellow  prison- 
ers were  so  disappointed  and  alarmed,  that  they  recommended 
hiding  ourselves,  if  possible,  among  the  mangrove  trees,  believ- 
ing, as  they  said,  we  should  now  certainly  be  put  to  death;  or, 
what  was  worse,  compelled  to  serve  on  board  the  Mexican  as 
pirates.  1  ittle  else  it  is  true  seemed  left  for  us;  however,  we 
kept  a  bright  look  out  for  them  during  the  day,  and  at  night  "  an 
anchor  watch"  as  we  called  it,  determined  if  we  discovered  their 
boats  coming  towards  us,  to  adopt  the  plan  of  hiding,  although 
starvation  stared  us  in  the  face;  yet  preferred  that  to  instant 
death.  This  night  was  passed  in  sufficient  anxiety — I  took  the 
first  watch. 

Saturday,  19th. — The  pirate's  large  boat  came  for  us — it  being 
daylight,  and  supposing  they  could  see  us,  determined  to  stand 
our  ground  and  wait  the  result.  They  ordered  us  all  into  the 
r>oat,  but  left  every  thing  else;  they  rowed  towards  the  Exertion 
— I  noticed  a  dejection  of  spirits  in  one  of  the  pirates,  and  in- 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  451 

quired  of  him  where  they  were  going  to  carry  us?  He  shojok 
his  head  and  replied  "  I  do  not  know."  I  now  had  some  hopes 
of  visiting  my  vessel  again — but  the  pirates  made  sail,  run  down, 
took  us  in  tow  and  stood  out  of  the  harbor.  Bolidar  afterwards 
took  me,  my  mate  and  two  of  my  men  on  board  and  gave  us  some 
coffee.  On  examination  I  found  they  had  several  additional  light 
sails,  made  of  the  Exertion's.  Almost  every  man,  a  pair  of  can- 
vass trousers;  and  my  colors  cut  up  and  made  into  belts  to  carry 
their  money  about  them. — My  jolly  boat  was  on  deck,  and  I  was 
informed,  all  my  rigging  was  disposed  of.  Several  of  the  pirates 
had  r,n  some  of!  my  clothes,  and  the  captain  one  of  my  best  shirts, 
a  cleaner  one,  than  I  had  ever  seen  him  have  on  before. — He 
kept  at  a  good  distance  from  me,  and  forbid  my  friend  Nickola's 
speaking  to  me. — I  saw  from  the  companion  way  in  the  captain's 
cabin  my  quadrant,  spy  glass  and  other  things  which  belonged  to 
u-,  and  observed  by  the  compass,  that  the  course  steered  was 
about  west  by  south, — distance  nearly  twenty  miles,  which  brought 
them  up  with  a  eluster  of  islands  called  by  some  "  Cayman 
Keys."  Here  they  anchored  and  caught  some  fish,  (one  of 
which  was  named  guard  Jlsh )  of  which  we  had  a  taste.  I  observ- 
ed that  my  friend  .Mr.  Bracket  was  somewhat  dejected,  and  asked 
him  in  a  low  voice,  what  his  opinion  was  with  respect  to  our  fate? 
He  answered,  "  I  cannot  tell  you,  but  it  appears  to  me  the  worst 
is  to  come,"  I  told  him  that  I  hoped  not.  but  thought  they  would 
give  us  our  small  boat  and  liberate  the  prisoners.  But  mercy 
even  in  this  shape  was  not  left  for.  us.  Soon  after,  saw  the  cap- 
tain and  officers  whispering  for  some  time  in  private  conference. 
When  over,  their  boat  was  manned  under  the  command  of  Bolidar, 
and  went  to  one  of  those  Islands  or  Keys  before  mentioned.* 
On  their  return,  another  conference  took  place — whether  it  was 
a  jury  upon  our  lives  we  could  not  tell — I  did  not  think  conscience 
could  be  entirely  extinguished  in  the  human  breast,  or  that  men 
could  become  fiends.  In  the  afternoon  while  we  knew  not  the 
doom  which  had  been  fixed  for  us,  the  captain  was  engaged  with 
several  ofvhis  men  in  gambling,  in  hopes  to  get  back  some  of  the 
five  hundred  dollars,  they  said,  he  lost  but  a  few  nights  before; 
which  had  made  him  unusually  fractious.  A  little  before  sunset 
he  ordered  all  the  prisoners  into  the  large  boat,  with  a  supply  of 
provisions  and  water,  and  to  be  put  on  shore.  While  we  were 
getting  into  her,  one  of*my  fellow  prisoners,  a  Spaniard,  attempt- 
ed with  tears  in  his  eyes  to  speak  to  the  captain,  but  was  refused, 
with  the  answer — "  I'll  have  nothing  to* say  to  any  prisoner,  go 
into  the  boat."  In  the  mean  time  Nickola  said  to  me,  "My 
friend,  I  will  give  you  your  book,"  (being  Mr.  Column's  Ser- 
mons,) "it  is  the  only  thing  of  yours  that  is  in  my  possession,  I 

*This  Key  was  full  of  mangrove  trees,  whose  tops  turn  down  and  take  root,  forming  a 
kind  of  umbrella.  The  tide  at  hi  ah  water  flows  two  feet  deep  under  them  ;  it  is  therefor* 
impossible  for  human  beings  to  live  long  among  them,  even  with  food  and  water. 


452  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 


dare  not  attempt  any  thing  more."  But  the  captain  forbid  his 
giving  it  to  me,  and  I  stepped  into  the  boat — at  that  moment 
IVickola  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  never  mind,  I  may  see  you  again 
before  I  die."  The  small  boat  was  well  armed  and  manned,  and 
both  set  off  together  for  the  island,  where  they  had  agreed  to 
leave  us  to  perish!  The  scene  to  us  was  a  funeral  scene.  There 
were  no  arms  in  the  prisoners'  boat,  and,  of  course,  all  attempts 
to  relieve  ourselves  would  have  been  throwing  our  lives  away,  as 
Bolidar  was  near  us,  well  armed.  We  were  rowed  about  two 
miles  northeasterly  from  the  pirates,  to  a  small  low  island,  lonely 
and  desolate.  We  arrived  about  sunset;  and  for  the  support  of 
us  eleven  prisoners,  they  only  left  a  ten  gallon  keg  of  water,  and 
perlmps  a  few  quarts,  in  another  small  vessel,  which  was  very 
poor;  part  of  a  barrel  of  flour,  a  small  keg  of  lard,  one  ham  and 
some  salt  fish;  a  small  kettle  and  an  old  broken  pot;  an  old  sail 
for  a  covering,  and  a  small  mattrass  and  blanket,  which  was  thrown 
out  as  the  boats  hastened  away.  One  of  the  prisoners  happened 
to  have  a  little  coffee  in  his  pocket,  and  these  comprehended  all 
our  means  of  sustaining  life,  and  for  what  length  of  time  we 
knew  not.  We  now  felt  the  need  of  water,  and  our  supply  was 
comparatively  nothing. — A  man  may  live  nearly  twice  as  long 
without  food,  as  without  water. — Look  at  us  now,  my  friends, 
left  benighted  on  a  little  spot  of  sand  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean, 
far  from  the  usual  track  of  vessels,  and  every  appearance  of  a 
violent  thunder  tempest,  and  a  boisterous  night.  Judge  of  my 
feelings,  and  the  circumstance^  which  our  band  of  sufferers  now 
witnessed. — Perhaps  you  can  and  have  pitied  us — I  assure  you, 
we  were  very  wretched;  and  to  paint  the  scene,  is  not  within  my 
power.  When  the  boats  were  moving  from  the  shore,  on  recov- 
ering myself  a  little,  I  asked  Bolidar,  "  If  he  was  going  to  leave 
us  so?" — he  answered,  "  no,  only  two  days — we  go  for  water  and 
wood,  then  come  back,  take  you."  I  requested  him  to.  give  us 
bread  and  other  stores,  for  they  had  plenty  in  the  boat,  arid  at 
least  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  in  the  Mexican  "  no,  no,  suppose 
to-morrow  morning  me  come,  me  give  you  bread,"  and  hurried 
off  to  their  vessel.  This  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him.  We  then 
turned  our  attention  upon  finding  a  spot  most  convenient  for  bur 
comfort,  and  soon  discovered  a  little  roof  supported  by  stakes 
driven  into  the  sand;*  it  was  thatched  with  leaves  of  the  cocoa-nut 
tree,  considerable  part  of  which  was  tofti  or  blown  off.  After 
spreading  the  old  sail  over  this  roof,  we  placed  our  little  stock  of 
provisions  under  it.  Soon  after  came  on  a  heavy  shower  of  rain 
which  penetrated  the  canvass,  and  made  it  nearly  as  uncomforta- 
ble inside,  as  it  would  have  been  out.  We  were  not  prepared  to 
catch  water,  having  nothing  to  put  it  in.  Qur  next  object  was  to 
get  fire,  and  after  gathering  some  of  the  driest  fuel  to  be  found, 

*  This  was  probably  erected  by  the  turtle  men  or  fishers,  who  visit  these  islands  in  June, 
ror  the  purposes  of  their  trade. 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  453 


and  having  a  small  piece  of  cotton  wick-yarn,  with  flint  and  steel, 
we  kindled  a  fire,  which  was  never  afterwards  suffered  to  be  ex- 
tinguished. Tiie  night  was  very  dark,  but  we  found  a  piece  of 
old  rope,  which  when  well  lighted  served  for  a  candle.  On  ex- 
amining the  ground  under  the  roof,  we  found  perhaps  thousands  of 
creeping  insects,  scorpions,  lizards,  crickets,  &.c.  After  scraping 
them  out  as  well  as  we  could,  the  most  of  us  having  nothing  but 
the  damp  earth  for  a  bed,  laid  ourselves  down  in  hopes  of  some 
rest;  but  it  being  so  wet,  gave  many  of  us  severe  colds,  and  one 
of  the  Spaniards  was  quite  sick  for  several  days. 

Sunday,  20th. — As  soon  as  daylight  came  on,  we  proceeded  to 
take  a  view  of  our  little  island,  and  found  it  to  measure  only  one 
acre,  of  coarse,  white  sand;  about  two  feet,  and  in  some  spots 
"  perhaps  three  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ocean.  On  the  high- 
est part  were  growing  some  bushes  and  small  mangroves,  (the 
dry  part  of  which  was  our  fuel)  and  the  wild  caster  oil  beans. 
We  were  greatly  disappointed  in  not  finding  the  latter  suitable 
food;  likewise  some  of  the  prickly  pear  bushes,  which  gave  us 
only  a  few  pears  about  the  size  of  our  small  button  pear;  the 
outside  has  thorns,  which  if  applied  to  the  fingers  or  lips,  will 
remain  there,  and  cause  a  severe  smarting  similar  to  the  n^tle; 
the  inside  a  spungy  substance  full  of  juice  and  seeds,  which  are 
red  and  a  little  tartish — had  they  been  there  in  abundance,  we 
should  not  have  suffered  so  much  for  water — but  alas!  even  this 
substitute  was  not  for  us.  On  the  northerly  side  of  the  island 
was  a  hollow,  where  the  tide  penetrated  the  sand,  leaving  stag- 
nant water.  We  presumed,  in  hurricanes  the  island  was  nearly 
overflowed.  According  to  the  best  calculations  I  could  make, 
we  were  about  thirty  five  miles  from  any  part  of  Cuba,  one  hun- 
dred from  Trinidad  and  forty  from  the  usual  track  of  American 
vessels,  or  others  which  might  pass  that  way.  No  vessel  of  any 
considerable  size,  can  safely  pass  among  these  Keys  or  "  Queen's 
Gardens,"  (as  the  Spaniards  call  them)  being  a  large  number 
extending  from  Cape  Cruz  to  Trinidad,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  distance;  and  many  more  than  the  charts  have  laid  down, 
most  of  them  very  low  and  some  covered  at  high  water,  which 
makes  it  very  dangerous  for  navigators  without  a  skilful  pilot. 
After  taking  this  view  of  our  condition,  which  was  very  gloomy, 
we  began  to  suspect  we  were  left  on  this  desolate  island  by  those 
merciless  plunderers  to  perish.  Of  this  I  am  now  fully  convinced ; 
still  we  looked  anxiously  for  the  pirate's  boat  to  come  according 
to  promise  with  more  water  and  provisions,  but  looked  in  vain. 
We  saw  them  soon  after  get  under  way  with  all  sail  set  and  run 
directly  from  us  until  out  of  our  sight,  and  we  tiever  saiu  them  again! 
one  mav  partiallv  imagine  our  feelings,  but  they  cannot  be  put 
into  words.  Before  they  were  entirely  out  of  sight  of  us,  we 
raised  the  white  blanket  upon  a  pole,  waving  it  in  the  air,  in 
hopes,  that  at  two  miles  distance  they  would  see  it  and  be  moved 


454  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

to  pity.  But  pity  in  such  monsters  was  not  to  be  found.  It  was 
not  their  interest  to  save  us  from  the  lingering  death,  which  we 
now  saw  before  us.  We  tried  to  compose  ourselves,  trusting  that 
God,  who  had  witnessed  our  sufferings,  would  yet  make  use  of 
some  one,  as  the  instrument  of  his  mercy  towards  us.  Our  next 
care,  now,  was  to  try  for  water.  We  dug  several  holes  in  the 
sand  and  found  it,  but  quite  too  salt  for  use.  The  tide  penetrates 
probably  through  the  island. — We  now  came  on  short  allowance 
for  water.  Having  no  means  of  securing  what  we  had  by  lock  and 
key,  some  one  in  the  night  would  slyly  drink,  and  it  was  soon 
gone.  The  next  was  to  bake  some  bread,  which  we  did  by  mixing 
flour  with  salt  water  and  frying  it  in  lard,  allowing  ourselves  eight 
quite  small  pancakes  to  begin  with.  The  ham  was  reserved  for 
some  more  important  occasion,  and  the  salt  fish  was  lost  for  want 
of  fresh  water.  The  remainder  of  this  day  was  passed  in  the  most 
serious  conversation  and  reflection. — At  night,  I  read  prayers 
from  the  "  Prayer  Book,"  before  mentioned,  which  I  most  care- 
fully concealed  while  last  on  board  the  pirates.  This  plan  was 
pursued  morning  and  evening,  during  our  stay  there. — Then 
retired  for  rest  and  sleep,  but  realized  little  of  either. 

Monday,  21st. — In  the  morning  we  walked  round,  the  beach, 
in  expectation  of  finding  something  useful.  On  our  way  picked 
up  a  paddle  about  three  feet  long,  very  similar  to  the  Indian 
canoe  paddle,  except  the  handle,  which  was  like  that  of  a  shovel, 
the  top  part  being  split  ofF;  we  laid  it  by  for  the  present.  We 
likewise  found  some  konchs  and  roasted  them;  they  were  a  pretty 
good  shell  fish,  though  rather  tough.  We  discovered  at  low 
water,  a  bar  or  spit  of  sand  extending  northeasterly  from  us,  about 
three  miles  distant,  to  a  cluster  of  Keys,  which  were  covered 
with  mangrove  trees,  perhaps  as  high  as  our  quince  tree.  My 
friend  Mr.  Bracket  and  George  attempted  to  wade  across,  being 
at  that  time  of  tide  only  up  to  their  armpits;  but  were  pursued  by 
a  shark  and  returned  without  success.  The  tide  rises  about  four 
feet. 

Tuesday,  22d. — We  found  several  pieces  of  the 'palmetto  or 
cabbage  tree,  and  some  pieces  t)f  boards,  put  them  together  in 
the  form  of  a  raft,  and  endeavored  to  cross,  but  that  proved  inef- 
fectual. Being  disappointed,  we  set  down  to  reflect  upon  other 
means  of  relief,  intending  to  do  all  in  our  power  for  our  safety 
while  our  strength  continued.  While  setting  here,  the  sun  was 
so  powerful  and  oppressive,  reflecting  its  rays  upon  the  sea, 
which  was  then  calm,  and  the  white  sand  which  dazzled  the  eye, 
was  so  painful,  that  we  retired  under  the  awning;  there  the  mos- 
chetoes  and  flies  were  so  numerous,  that  good  rest  could  not  be 
found.  We  were,  however,  a  little  cheered,  when,  in  scraping 
out  the  top  of  the  ground  to  clear  out,  I  may  say  thousands  of 
crickets  and  bugs,  we  found  a  hatchet,  which  was  to  us  peculiarly 
serviceable.  At  night  the  strong  northeasterly  wind,  which  pre- 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  455 

vails  there  at  all  seasons,  was  so  cold  as  to  make  it  equally  un- 
comiortable  with  the  day. — Thus  day  after  day,  our  sufferings 
arid  apprehensions  multiplying,  we  were  very  generally  alarmed. 

Wednesday,  23d. — Early  this  morning  one  of  our  Spanish 
fellow  prisoners  crossed  the  bar,  having  taken  with  him  a  pole 
sharpened  at  one  end;  this  he  said  "  was  to  kill  sharks" — but  he 
saw  none  to  trouble  him.  While  he  was  gone,  we  tried  for  water 
in  several  plactf*,  but  still  it  was  very  salt;  but  not  having  any 
other,  we  drank  of  it,  and  found  it  had  a  similar  effe*,  to  that  of 
giuuber  salts.  We  now  concluded  to  reduce  the^  allowance  of 
bread  or  rather  pancakes,  being  too  sensible  that  our  little  stock 
of  provisions  could  last  but  a  few  days  longer;  we  had  the  faintest 
^frope  of  any  supplies,  or  escape,  before  it  would  be  too  late  to  save 
life.  Towards  night  the  Spaniard  returned,  but  almost  famished 
for  want  of  water  and  food.  He  reported  that  he  found  some 
plank  or>  one  of  the  islands,  (but  they  proved  to  be  sugar-box 
shooks)  which  revived  us  a  little;  but  no  water. — He  said  he  had 
great  difficulty  to  make  his  way  through  the  mangrove  trees,  it 
being  very  swampy;  so  that  we  should  not  better  ourselves  by 
going  there,  although  the  key  was  rather  larger  than  ours.  This, 
I  understood  through  Joseph,  the  English  prisoner  who  could 
speak  Spanish.  After  prayers,  laid  ourselves  down  upon  our  bed 
of  sand,  and  being  nearly  exhausted  we  obtained  some  sleep. 

Thursday,  24th. — This  morning,  after  taking  a  little  coffee, 
made  of  the  water  which  we  thought  least  salt,  and  two  or  three  of 
the  little  cakes,  we  felt  somewhat  refreshed,  and  concluded  to  make 
another  visit  to  those  Keys  in  hopes  of  finding  something  more, 
which  might  make  a  raft  for  us  to  escape  the  pirates,  and  avoid 
perishing  by  thirst.  Accordingly  seven  of  us  set  off,  waded 
across  the  bar  and  searched  all  the  Keys  thereabouts. — On  one 
we  found  a  number  of  sugar-box  shooks,  two  lashing  plank  and 
some  pieces  of  old  spars,  which  were  a  part  of  *he  Exertion's 
deck  load,  that  was  thrown  overboard  when  she  grounded  on  the 
bar,  spoken  of  in  the  first  part  of  the  narrative. — It  seems  they 
had  drifted  fifteen  miles,  and  had  accidentally  lodged  on  these 
very  Keys  within  our  reach.  Had  the  pirates  known  this,  they 
would  undoubtedly  have  placed  us  in  another  direction.  They 
no  doubt  thought  that  they  could  not  put  us  on  a  worse  place. 
The  wind  at  this  time  was  blowing  so  strong  on  shore,  as  to  pre- 
vent rafting  our  stuff  round  to  our  island,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
haul  it  upon  the  beach  for  the  present;  then  dug  for  water  in  the 
highest  place,  but  found  it  as  salt  as  ever,  and  then  returned  to 
our  habitation. — But  hunger  and  thirst  began  to  prey  upon  us,  and 
our  comforts  were  as  few  as  our  hopes. 

Friday,  25th. — Again  passed  over  to  those  Keys  to  windward  in 
order  to  raft  our  stuff  to  our  island,  it  being  most  convenient  foi 
building.  But  the  surf  on  the  beach  was  so  very  rough,  that  we 
were  again  compelled  to  postpone  it.  Our  courage  however  did 


456  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

not  fail  where  there  was  the  slightest  hopes  of  life — Returning 
without  it,  we  found  on  our  way  an  old  top  timber  of  some  vessel; 
it  had  several  spikes  in  it,  which  we  afterwards  found  very  ser- 
viceable. In  the  hollow  of  an  old  tree,  we  found  two  guarnas  of 
small  size,  one  male,  the  other  female. — Qne  only  was  caught. 
After  taking  off  the  skin,  we  judged  it  weighed  a  pound  and  a  half. 
With  some  flour  and  lard,  (the  only  things  we  had  except  salt 
water,)  it  made  us  a  fine  little  mess.  We  thought  it  a  rare  dish 
though  a  small  one  for  eleven  half  starved  persons. — At  the  same 
time  a  small  vessel  hove  in  sight;  we  made  a  signal  to  her  with 
the  blanket  tied  to  a  pole  and  placed  it  on  the  highest  tree — some 
took  off  their  white  clothes  and  waved  them  in  the  air,  hoping  they 
would  come  to  us;  should  they  be  pirates,  they  could  do  no  more 
than  kill  us,  and  perhaps  would  give  us  some  water  for  which  we 
began  to  suffer  most  excessively;  but,  notwithstanding  all  our 
efforts,  she  took  no  notice  of  us. 

Saturday,  26th. — This  day  commenced  with  moderate  weather 
and  smooth  sea;  at  low  tide  found  some  cockles,  boiled  and  eat 
them,  but  they  were  very  painful  to  the  stomach.  David  Warren 
had  a  fit  of  strangling  with  swelling  of  the  bowels;  but  soon  re- 
covered, and  said,  "  something  like  salt,  rose  in  his  throat  and 
choked  him."  Most  of  us  then  set  off  for  the  Keys,  where  the 
plank  and  shocks  were  put  together  in  a  raft,  which  we  with  pieces 
of  boards  paddled  over  to  our  island;  when  we  consulted  the  best 
plan,  either  to  build  a  raft  large  enough  for  us  all  to  go  on,  or  a 
boat;  but  the  shooks  having  three  or  four  nails  in  each,  and  having 
a  piece  of  large  reed  or  bamboo,  previously  found,  of  which  we 
made  pins,  concluded  to  make  a  boat. 

Sunday;  27th. — Commenced  our  labor,  for  which  I  know  we 
need  offer  no  apology.  We  took  the  two  planks,  which  were 
about  fourteen  feet  long,  and  two  and  a  half  wide,  and  fixed  them 
together  for  the  bottom  of  the  boat;  then  with  moulds  made  of 
palmetto  bark,  cut  timber  and  knees  from  mangrove  trees  which 
spread  so  much  as  to  make  the  boat  four  feet  wide  at  the  top, 
placed  them  exactly  the  distance  apart  of  an  Havanna  sugar  box. 
— Her  stern  was  square  and  the  bows  tapered  to  a  peak,  making 
her  form  resemble  a  flat-iron.  We  proceeded  thus  far  and  retired 
to  rest  for  the  night — but  Mr.  Bracket  was  too  unwell  to  get  much 
sleep. 

Monday,  28th. — Went  on  with  the  work  as  fast  as  possible. — 
Some  of  the  Spaniards  had  long  knives  about  them,  which  proved 
very  useful  in  fitting  timbers,  and  a  gimlet  of  mine,  accidentally 
found  on  board  the  pirates,  enabled  us  to  use  the  wooden  pins. — 
And  now  our  spirits  began  to  revive,  though  water,  water,  was 
continually  in  our  minds.  We  now  feared  the  pirates  might  pos- 
sibly come,  find  out  our  plan  and  put  us  to  death,  (although  before 
we  had  wished  to  see  them,  being  so  much  in  want  of  water.) 
Our  labor  was  extremely  burdensome,  and  the  Spaniards  con- 


NARRATIVE    OF     CAPTAI.V    LINCOLN.  457 

giderably  peevish — but  they  would  often  say  to  me  "never  mind 
capitan,  by  and  by,  Americana  or  Spanyola  catch  them,  The  go 
see  'uui  hung."  We  quitted  work  for  the  day,  cojked  some  cakes 
but  found  it  necessary  to  reduce  the  quantity  again,  however 
small  before.  We  found  some  herbs  on  a  windward  Key,  which 
the  Spaniards  called  Spanish  tea. — This  when  well  boiled  we  found 
somewhat  palatable,  although  the  water  was  very  salt.  This 
herb  resembles  pennyroyal  in  look  and  taste,  though  not  so  pun- 
'gent.  In  the  evening  when  we  were  setting  round  the  fire  to  keep 
off  the  moschetoes,  1  observed  David  Warren's  eyes  shone  like 
glass.  The  mate  said  to  him — "  David  I  think  you  will  die  bef  >re 
morning — I  think  you  are  struck  with  death  now."  I  thought  so 
too,  and  told  him,  "  1  thought  it  most  likely  we  should  all  die  here 
soon ;  but  as  some  one  of  us  may  survive  to  carry  the  tidings  to 
our  friends,  if  you  have  any  thing  to  say  respecting'your  family, 
now  is.  the  time." — He  then  said,  "  I  have  a  mother  in  Saco  where 
I  belong — she  is  a  second  time  a  widow — to-morrow  if  you  can 
spare  a  scrap  of  paper  and  pencil  I  will  write  something."  But 
no  to  morrow  came  to  him. — In  'the  course  of  the  night  he  had 
another  spell  of  strangling,  and  soon  after  expired,  without  much 
pain  and  without  a  groan.  He  was  about  twenty-six  years  old. 
— How  solemn  was  this  scene  to  us!  Here  we  beheld  the  ravages 
of  death  commenced  upon  us.  More  than  one  of  us  considered 
death  a  happy  release.  For  myself  I  thought  of  my  wife  and 
children;  and  wished  to  live  if  God  should  so  order  it,  though  ex- 
treme thirst,  hunger  and  exhaustion  had  well  nigh  prostrated  my 
fondest  hopes. 

Tuesday,  29th. — Part  of  us  recommenced  labor  on  the  boat, 
while  myself  and  Mr.  Bracket  went  and  selected  the  highest  clear 
spot  of  sand  on  the  northern  side  of  the  island,  where  we  dug 
Warren's  grave  and  boxed  it  up  with  shocks,  thinking  it  would  be 
the  most  suitable  spot  for  the  rest  of  us — whose  turn  would  come 
next,  we  knew  not.  At  about  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.  conveyed  the 
corpse  to  the  grave,  followed  by  us  survivers — a  scene,  whose 
awful  solemnity  can  never  be  painted.  We  stood  around  the 
prave,  and  there  I  read  the  funeral  prayer  from  jhe  Rev.  Mr. 
Brooks's  Family  Prayer  Book;  and  committed  the  body  to  the 
earth;  covered  it  with  s  »me  pieces  of  board  and  sand,  and  return- 
ed to  our  labor. — One  of  the  Spaniards  an  old  man,  named  Man- 
uel, who  was  partial  to  me,  and  I  to  him,  made  a  cr  ss  and  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  grave  saying,  "  Jesus  Christ  hath  him  now." 
Although  1  did  not  believe  in  any  mysterious  influence  of  this 
cross,  yet  I  was  perfectly  willing  it  should  stand  there.  The  mid- 
dle part  of  the  day  being  very  warm,  our  mouths  parched  with 
thirst,  and  our  spirits  so  depressed,  that  we  made  but  little  progress 
during  the  remainder  of  this  day,  but  in  the  evening  were  employ- 
ed in  picking  oakum  out  of  the  bolt  rope  taken  from  the  old  sail. 

Wednesday,  30th. — Returned  to  labor  on  the  boat  with  as 

39 


458  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

much  vigor  as  our  week  and  debilitated  state  would  admit,  but 
it  was  a  day  of  trial  to  us  all;  for  the  Spaniards  and  we  Ameri- 
cans co«4d  not  well  understand  each  other's  plans,  and  they  ne- 
ing  naturally  petulant  would  not  work,  nor  listen  with  any  patience 
for  Joseph  our  English  fellow  prisoner  to  explain  our  views — they 
would  sometimes  undo  what  they  had  done  and  in  a  few  minutes 
replace  it  again;  however  before  nigtit  we  began  to  calk  her 
seams,  by  means  of  pieces  of  hard  mangrove,  made  in  form  of  a 
calking-iron,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  in  a  form  some- 
thing like  a  boat. 

Thursday,  31st. — Went  on  with  the  work,  some  at  calking, 
others  at  battening  the  seams  with  strips  of  canvass,  arid  pieces 
of  pine  nailed  over,  to  keep  the  oakum  in.  Having  found  a  suita- 
ble pole  for  a  mast,  the  rest  went  about  making  a  sail  from  the 
one  we  had  us"ed  for  a  covering,  also  fitting  oars  of  short  pieces  of 
boards,  in  form  of  a  paddle,  tied  on  a  pole,  we  having  a  pietce  of 
fishing  line  brought  by  one  of  the  prisoners.  Thu^,  at  three  P.  M. 
the  boat  was  completed  and  put  afloat. — We  had  all  this  time  con- 
fidently hoped,  that  she  would  be  sufficiently  large  and  strong  to 
carry  us  all — we  made  a  trial  and  were  disappointed!  This  was 
indeed  a  severe  trial,  and  the  emotions  it  called  up  were  not  easy 
to  be  suppressed.  She  proved  leaky,  for  we  had  no  carpenter's 
yard,  or  smith's  shop  to  go  to. — And  now  the  question  was,  "  who 
should  go,  and  how  many?1'  I  found  it  necessary  for  six; 
four  to  row,  one  to  steer  and  one  to  bale.  Three  of  the  Spaniards 
and  the  Frenchman  claimed  the  right,  as  being  best  acquainted 
with  the  nearest  inhabitants;  likewise,  they  had  when  taken,  two 
boats  1  ft  at  St.  Maria  (about  forty  miles  distant)  which  they  were 
confident  of  finding.  They  promised  to  return  within  two  or  three 
days  for  the  rest  of  us — I  thought  it  best  to  consent — Mr.  Bracket 
it  was  agreed  should  go  in  my  stead,  because  my  papers  must  ac- 
company me  as  a  necessary  protection,  and  my  men  apprehended 
danger  if  they  were  lost.  Joseph  Baxter  (I  think  was  his  name)  they 
wished  should  g  >,  because  he  could  speak  both  languages — leav- 
ing Manuel,  George,  Thomas  and  myself,  to  wait  their  return. 
Having  thus  made  all  arrangements,  and  putting  up  a  keg  of  the 
least  salt  water,  with  a  few  pancakes  and  salt  fish,  thev  set  of]'  a 
little  before  sunset  with  our  best  wishes  and  prayers  for  their  safely 
and  return  to  our  relief. — To  launch  off  into  the  wide  ocean,  with 
strength  almost  exhausted,  and  in  such  a  frail  boat  as  this,  you 
will  say  was  very  hazardous,  and  in  truth  it  was;  but  what  else 
was  left  to  us? — Their  intention  was  to  touch  at  the  Key  where 
the  Exertion  was,  and  if  no  boat  was  to  be  found  there,  to  pro- 
ceed on  to  St.  Maria  and  if  none  there,  to  go  to  Trinidad  and  srnd 
us  relief. — But  alas!  it  was  the  last  time  I  ever  saw  them! — Our 
suffering  this  day  was  most  acute. 

Tuesday,  February  1st. — This  day  we  rose  early  and  traversed 
the  beach  in  search  of  cockles,  &c.  but  found  very  few — I  struck 


NARRATIVE  OF   CAPTAIN  LINCOLN.  459 

my  foot  against  something  in  the  sand,  which  proved  to  be  a  curi- 
ous shell,  and  soon  found  two  others  of  a  different  kind;  but  they 
were  to  me  like  Crusoe's  lump  of  gold,  of  no  value.  I  could  not 
drink  them;  so  laid  them  by. — I  returned  to  our  tent  and  we 
made  some  skillygolee,  or  flour  and  salt  water  boiled  together, 
which  we  found  better  than  clear  salt  water.  We  passed  the  day 
very  uncomfortably,  and  my  people  were  dissatisfied  at  not  having 
an  equal  chance,  as  they  called  it,  with  the  others  in  the  boat — 
but  if  is  not  always,  that  we  know  what  is  for  our  good. 

Saturday,  2d. — Thomas  and  George  made  another  visit  to  the 
windward  Keys,  where  they  found  some  more  shocks  and  two 
pieces  of  spars;  towed  them  round  as  before.  We  now  had  some 
hopes  of  finding  enough  to  make  us  a  raft,  which  would  carry  us 
to  some  place  of  relief,  in  case  the  boat  should  not  return. 

Sunday,  3d. —  A  calm  warm  day,  but  a  very  gloomy  one  to  us, 
it  being  more  difficult  to  support  life — our  provisions  nearly  ex- 
pended, no  appearance  of  .rain  since  the  night  we  first  landed,  our 
thirst  increasing,  our  strength  wasting,  our  few  clothes  hanging  in 
rags,  our  beards  of  great  length  and  aim  >st  turned  white,  nothing 
like  relief  before  us,  no  boat  in  sight. — Think,  compassionate 
reader,  our  situation.  We  had  marked  out  for  each  one  the  place 
for  his  grave.  I  looked  at  mine,  and  thought  of  my  wife  and  fami- 
ly.— Again  we  reduced  the  allowance  of  bread;  but  even  the 
little,  which  now  fell  to  my  share,  I  could  scarcely  swallow — I 
never  seemed  to  feel  the  sensation  of  hunger,  the  extreme  of  thirst 
was  so  overpowering. — Perhaps  never  shall  I  be  more  reconciled 
to  death,  but  my  home  made  me  want  to  live,  although  every  breath 
seemed  to  increase  thirst. 

Monday,  4th. — Having  seriously  reflected  on  our  situation, 
concluded  to  put  all  the  shooks,  &c.  together  and  form  a  raft,  and 
ascertain  what  weight  it  would  carry;  but  here  again  we  were 
disappointed,  for  we  had  not  enough  to  carry  two  of  us. 

Tuesday,  5th. — About  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.  discovered  a  boat 
drifting  by  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  island  about  a  mile  distant. 
I  deemed  it  a  providential  thing  to  us,  and  urged  Thomas  and 
George  trying  the  raft  for  her.  They  reluctantly  consented  and 
set  off,  but  it  was  nearly  three  P.  M.  when  they  came  up  with 
her. — It  was  the  same  boat  we  had  built!  Where  then  was  my 
friend  Bracket  and  those  who  went  with  him?  Every  appearance 
was  unfavorable. — I  hoped  that  a  good  Providence  had  yet  pre- 
served him. — The  two  men  who  went  for  the  boat,  found  it  full  of 
water,  without  oars,  paddle,  or  sail;  being  in  this  condition,  and 
about  three  miles  to  the  leeward,  the  men  found  it  impossible  to 
tow  her  up,  so  left  her  and  were  till  eleven  o'clock  at  night  get- 
ting back  with  the  raft.  They  were  so  exhausted,  that  had  it  not 
been  nearly  calm,  they  could  never  have  returned. 

Wednesday,  6th. — This  morning  was  indeed  the  most  gloomy 
I  had  ever  experienced. — There  appeared  hardly  a  ray  of  hope 


4GO  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN     LINCOLN. 

that  my  friend  Bracket  could  return,  seeing  the  boat  was  lost.  - 
Our  provisions  nearly  gone;  our  mouths  parched  extremely  with 
thirst;  our  strength  wasted;  our  spirits  broken,  and  our  hopes 
imprisoned  within  the  circumference  of  this  desolate  island  in  the 
midst  of  an  unfrequented  ocean;  all  these  things  gave  to  the  scene 
around  us  the  hue  of  death.  In  the  midst  of  this  dreadful  despon- 
dence, a  sail  hove  in  sight,  hearing  the  white  flag.  Our  hopes 
were  raised,  of  course — but  no  sooner  raised  than  darkened,  by 
hearing  a  gun  fired.  Here  then  was  another  gang  of  pirates. — 
She  soon,  however,  came  near  enough  to  anchor,  and  her  boat 
pushed  off*  towards  us  with  three  men  in  her. — Thinking  it 
no  worse  now  to  die  by  sword  than  famine  I  walked  down  imme- 
diately to  meet  them.  I  knew  them  not. — A  moment  before  the 
boat  touched  the  ground,  a  man  leaped  from  her  bows  and  caught 
me  in  his  arms!  It  was Nickola ! ! — saying,  "  Do  you  now  believe 
Nickola  is  your  friend?  yes,  said  he,  Jamieson  will  yet  prove  him- 
self so." — No  words  can  express  my  emotions  at  this  moment. — 
This  was  a  friend  indeed.  The  reason  of  my  not  recognising 
them  before,  was  that  they  had  cut  off  their  beards  and  whiskers. 
Turning  to  my  fellow-sufferers,  Nickola  asked — "  Are  these  all 
that  are  left  of  you?  where  are  the  others?" — At  this  moment 
seeing  David's  grave — "  Are  they  dead  then?  ah  I  suspected  it, 
I  know  what  you  were  put  here  for."  As  soon  as  I  could  recover 
myself^  gave  him  an  account  of  Mr.  Bracket  and  the  others. — 
"  How  unfortunate,  he  said,  they  must  be  lost  or  some  pirates 
have  taken  them  " — "  but,  he  continued,  we  have  no  time  to  lose; 
you  4iad  better  embark  immediately  with  us,  and  go  where  you 
please,  we  are  at  your  service."  The  other  two  in  the  boat  with 
him  were  Frenchmen,  one  named  Lyon,  the  other  Parrikete. 
They  affectionately  embraced  each  of  us;  then  holding  to  my 
mouth  the  nose  of  a  teakettle,  filled  with  wine,  said  "  Drink  plenty, 
no  hurt  you."  I  drank  as  much  as  I  judged  prudent.  They  then 
gave  it  to  my  fellow  sufferers.— I  experienced  almost  immediate 
relief,  not  feeling  it  in  my  head;  they  had  also  brought  in  the 
boat  for  us,  a  dish  of  salt  beef  and  potatoes,  of  which  we  took  a 
little.  Then  sent  the  boat  on  board  for  the  other  two  men,  being 
five  in  all;  who  came  ashore,  and  rejoiced  enough  was  I  to  see 
among  them  Thomas  Yaung,  one  of  my  crew,  who  was  detained 
on  board  the  Mexican,  but  had  escaped  through  Nickola's  means; 
the  other  a  Frenchman,  named  John  Cadedt.  I  now  thought, 
agairi>and%again,  with  troubled  emotion  of  my  friend  Bracket's 
fate. — I  took  the  last  piece  of  paper  I  had,  and  wrote  with  pencil 
a  few  lines,  informing  him  (should  he  come  there,)  that  "  I  and 
the  rest  were  safe;  that  I  was  not  mistaken  in  the  friend  in  whom 
I  had  placed  so  much  confidence,  that  he  had  accomplished  my 
highest  expectations;  and  that  I  should  go  immediately  to  Trini- 
dad, and  requested  him  to  go  there  also,  and  apply  to  Mr.  Isaac  W. 
Lord,  my  consignee,  for  assistance."  I  put  the  paper  into  a  junk 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  461 

bottle,  previously  found  on  the  beach,  put  in  a  stopper,  and  left 
it,  together  with  what  little  flour  remained,  a  keg  of  water  brought 
from  Nickola's  vessel,  and  a  few  other  things  which  I  thought 
might  be  of  service  to  him.  We  then  repaired  with  our  friends 
on  board,  where  we  were  kindly  treated.  She  was  a  sloop  from 
Jamaica,  of  about  twelve  tons,  with  a  cargo  of  rum  and  wine, 
bound  to  Trinidad.  I  asked  "  which  way  they  intended  to  go?" 
they  said  "to  Jamaica  if  agreeable  to  me."  As  I  preferred 
Trinidad,  I  told  them,  c<  if  they  would  give  me  the  Exertion's 
boat  which  was  along-side  (beside  their  own)  some  water  and  pro- 
visions, we  would  take  chance  in  her,"  "  for  perhaps,  said  I,  you 
will  fare  better  at  Jamaica,  than  at  Trinidad."  After  a  few  min- 
utes consultation,  they  said  ''you  are  too  much  exhausted  to  row 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  miles,  therefore  we  will  go  and  carry 
you — we  consider  ourselves  at  your  service."  I  expressed  a 
wish  to  take  a  look  at  the  Exertion,  possibly  we  might  hear  some- 
thing of  Mr.  Bracket.  Nickola  said  "  very  well,"  so  got  under 
way,  and  run  for  her,  having  a  light  westerly  wind.  He  then  re- 
lated to  me  the  manner  of  their  desertion  from  the  pirates;  as 
nearly  as  I  can  recollect  his  own  words,  he  said,  "  A  few  days 
since,  the  pirates  took  four  small  vessels,  I  believe  Spaniards; 
they  having  but  two  officers  for  the  two  first,  the  third  fell  to  me 
as  prize  master,  and  having  an  understanding  with  the  three 
Frenchmen  and  Thomas,  selected  them  for  my  crew,  and  went 
on  board  with  orders  to  follow  the  Mexican;  which  I  obeyed. 
The  fourth,  the  pirates  took  out  all  but  one  man  and  bade  him 
also  follow  their  vessel.  Now  our  schooner  leaked  so  bad,  that 
we  left  her  and  in  her  stead  agreed  to  take  this  little  sloop,  (which 
we  are  now  in)  together  with  the  one  man.  The  night  being  very 
dark  we  all  agreed  to  desert  the  pirates — altered  our  course  and 
touched  at  St.  Maria,  where  we  landed  the  one  man — saw  no 
boats  there,  could  hear  nothing  from  you,  and  agreed  one  and  all 
at  the  risk  of  our  lives  to  come  and  liberate  you  if  you  were  alive; 
knowing,  as  we  did,  that  you  were  put  on  this  Key  to  perish. 
On  our  way  we  boarded  the  Exertion,  thinking  possibly  you  might 
have  been  there.  On  board  her  we  found  a  sail  and  paddle.* 
We  took  one  of  the  pirate's  boats  which  they  had  left  along-side 
of  her,  which  proves  how  we  come  by  two  boats.  My  friend,  the 
circumstance  I  am  now  about  to  relate,  will  somewhat  astonish 
you.  When  the  pirate's  boat  with  Bolidar  was  sent  to  the  before 
mentioned  Key,  on  the  19th  of  January,  it  was  their  intention  to 
leave  you  prisoners  there,  where  was  nothing  but  salt  water  and 
mangroves,  and  no  possibility  of  escape.  This  was  the  plan  of 
Baltizar,  their  abandoned  pilot;  but  Bolidar's  heart  failed  him, 
and  he  objected  to  it;  then,  after  a  conference,  Captain  Johnia 
ordered  you  to  be  put  on  the  little  island  from  whence  we  have 

*This  proved  to  me  that  Mr.  Bracket  had  been  there,  these  being  the  ones  which  he  took 
from  the  island. 

39* 


462  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

now  taken  you.  But  after  this  was  done,  that  night  l-he  French 
and  Portuguese  part  of  the  Mexican's  crew  protested  against  it; 
so  that  Captain  Jonnia  to  satisfy  them,  sent  his  large  boat  to  take 
you  and  your  fellow  prisoners  back  again,  taking  caie  to  select  his 
confidential  Spaniards  for  this  errand.  And  will  you  believe  me, 
they  set  off  from  the  Mexican  and  after  spending  about  as  much  time 
as  would  really  have  taken  them  to  come  to  you,  they  returned,  and 
reported  they  had  been  to  your  island,  and  landed,  and  that  none  of 
you  were  there;  somebody  having  taken  you  off!  This,  all  my 
companions  here  know  to  be  true. — I  knew  it  was  impossible  you 
could  have  been  liberated,  and  therefore  we  determined  among 
ourselves,  that  should  an  opportunity  occur  we  would  come  and 
save  your  lives,  as  we  now  have."  He  then  expressed,  as  he 
hitherto  had  done,  (and  I  believe  with  sincerity)  his  disgust  with 
the  bad  company  which  he  had  been  in,  and  looked  forward  with 
anxiety  to  the  day  when  he  might  return  to  his  native  country. 
I  advised  him  to  get  on  board  an  American  vessel,  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered,  and  come  to  the  United  States;  and  on  his 
arrival  direct  a  letter  to  me:  repeating  my  earnest  desire  to  make 
some  return  for  the  disinterested  friendship  which  he  had  shown 
toward  me.  With  the  Frenchman  I  had  but  little  conversation, 
being  unacquainted  with  the  language. 

Here  ended  Nickola's  account.  "  And  now"  said  the  French- 
men, "  our  hearts  be  easy."  Nickola  observed  he  had  left  all 
and  found  us.  I  gave  them  my  warmest  tribute  of  gratitude, 
saying,  I  looked  upon  them  under  God  as  the  preservers  of  our 
lives,  and  promised  them  all  the  assistance  which  my  situation 
might  ever  enable  me  to  afford. — This  brings  me  to 

Thursday  evening,  7th,  when,  at  eleven  o'clock,  we  anchored 
at  the  creek's  mouth,  near  the  Exertion.  1  was  anxious  to  board 
her;  accordingly  took  with  me  Nickola,  Thomas,  George  and  two 
others,  well  armed,  each  with  a  musket  and  cutlass.  I  jumped 
on  her  deck,  saw  a  fire  in  the  camboose,  but  no  person  there:  I 
called  aloud  Mr.  Bracket's  name  several  times,  saying  "it  is 
Captain  Lincoln,  don't  be  afraid,  but  show  yourself;"  but  no  an- 
swer was  given.  She  had  no  masts,  spars,  rigging,  furniture, 
provisions  or  anything  left,  except  her  bowsprit,  and  a  few  bar- 
rels of  salt  provisions  of  her  cargo.  Her  sealing  had  holes  cut 
in  it,  no  doubt  in  their  foolish  search  for  money.  I  left  her  with 
peculiar  emotions,  such  as  I  hope  never  again  to  experience;  and 
returned  to  the  little  sloop  where  we  remained  till — 

Friday,  8th — When  I  had  a  disposition  to  visit  the  island  on 
which  we  were  first  imprisoned. — Found  nothing  there — saw  a 
boat  among  the  mangroves,  near  the  Exertion.  Returned,  and 
got  under  way  immediately  for  Trinidad.  In  the  night,  while 
under  full  sail,  run  aground  on  a  sunken  Key,  having  rocks  above 
the  water,  resembling  old  stumps  of  trees;  we,  however,  soon: 
got  off  and  anchored.  Most  of  those  Keys  have  similar  rocks 
about  them,  which  navigators  must  carefully  guard  against. 


NARRATIVE  OP  CAPTAIN  LINCOLN.  463 

Saturday,  9th. — Got  under  way  again,  and  stood  along  close  in 
for  the  main  island  of  Cuba,  in  order,  that  if  we  should  see  the 
pirates,  to  take  our  boats  and  go  on  shore. 

Sunday,  10th. — Saw  the  highlands  of  Trinidad.  At  night 
came  to  anchor  in  sight  of  the  town,  near  a  small  Key;  next 
morning — 

Monday,  llth — Got  under  way — saw  a  brig  at  anchor  about 
five  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  harbor;  we  hoped  to  avoid  her 
sneaking  us;  but  when  we  opened  in  sight  of  her,  discovered  a 
boat  making  towards  us,  with  a  number  of  armed  men  in  her. 
This  alarmed  rny  fiiends,  and  as  we  did  not  see  the  brig's  ensign 
hoisted,  they  declared  the  boat  was  a  pirate,  and  looking  through 
the  spy-glass,  thought  they  knew  some  of  them  to  be  the  Mexi- 
can's men!  This  state  of  things  was  quite  alarming.  They, 
said,  "  we  will  not  be  taken  alive  by  them."  Immediately  the 
boat  fired  a  musket;  the  ball  passed  through  our  mainsail.  My 
friends  insisted  on  beating  them  off:  I  endeavored  to  dissuade 
them,  believing,  as  I  did,  that  the  brig  was  a  Spanish  man  of 
war,  who  had  sent  her  boat  to  ascertain  who  we  were.  I  thought 
we  had  better  heave  too.  Immediately  another  shot  came. 
Then  they  insisted  on  fighting  and  said,  "  if  I  would  not  help 
them,  I  was  no  friend."  I  reluctantly  acquiesced,  and  handed  up 
the  guns — commenced  firing  upon  them  and  they  upon  us.  We 
received  several  shot  through  the  sails,  but  no  one  was  hurt  on 
either  side.  Our  two  boats  had  been  cast  adrift  to  make  us  go 
the  faster,  and  we  gained  upon  them — continued  firing  until  they 
turned  from  us,  and  went  for  our  boats,  which  they  took  in  tow 
for  the  brig.  Soon  after  this,  it  became  calm:  then  I  saw  that  the 
brig  had  us  in  her  power. — She  manned  and  armed  two  more 
boats  for  us.  We  now  concluded,  since  we  had  scarcely  any 
ammunition,  to  surrender;  and  were  towed  down  along-side  the 
brig,  taken  on  board,  and  was  asked  by  the  captain,  who  could 
speak  English,  "  what  for  you  fire  on  the  boat?"  I  told  him 
"  we  thought,  her  a  pirate,  and  did  not  like  to  be  taken  by  them 
a^ain,  having  already  suffered  too  much;"  showing  my  papers. 
He  said,  "  Captain  Americana,  never  mind,  go  and  take  some 
dinner — which  are  your  men?"  I  pointed  them  out  to  him,  and 
he  ordered  them  the  liberty  of  the  decks;  but  my  friend  Nickola 
and  his  three  associates  were  immediately  put  in  irons.  They 
were,  however,  afterwards  taken  out  of  irons  and  examined;  and 
I  understood  the  Frenchmen  agreed  to  enlist,  as  they  judged  it 
the  surest  way  to  better  their  condition.  Whether  Nickola  en- 
listed, I  do  not  know,  but  think  that  he  did,  as  I  understood  that 
offer  was  made  to  him:  I  however  endeavored  to  explain  more 
distinctly  to  the  captain,  the  benevolent  efforts  of  these  four  men 
by  whom. my  life  had  been  saved,  and  used  every  argument  in  my 
power  to  procure  their  discharge.  I  also  applied  to  the  governor, 
and  exerted  myself  with  peculiar  interest,  dictated  as  I  trust  with 


464  NARRATIVE    OP    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

heartfelt  gratitude — and  T  ardently  hope  ere  this,  that  Nickola  it 
on  his  way  to  this  country,  where  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
convincing  him  that  such  an  act  of  benevolence  will  not  go  un- 
rewarded. Previous  to  my  leaving  Trinidad,  1  made  all  the 
arrangements  in  my  power  with  my  influential  friends,  and  doubt 
not,  that  their  laudable  efforts  will  be  accomplished.  —The  sloop's 
cargo  was  taken  on  board  the  brig;  after  which  the  captain  re- 
quested'a  certificate  that  I  was  politely  treated  by  him,  saying  his 
name  was  Captain  Candama,  of  the  privateer  brig  Prudentee  of 
eighteen  guns.  This  request  I  complied  with.  His  first  lieuten- 
ant told  me  he  had  sailed  out  of  Boston,  as  commander  for  T.  C. 
Amory,  Esq.  during  the  last.  war.  In  the  course  of  the  evening 
my  friends  were  taken  out  of  irons  and  examined  separately,  then 
put  back  again.  The  captain  invited  me'to  supper  in  his  cabin, 
and  a  birth  for  the  night,  which  was  truly  acceptable.  The  next 
morning  after  breakfast,  I  with  my  people  were  set  on  shore  with 
the  few  things  we  had,  with  the  promise  of  the  Exertion's  small 
boat  in  a  day  or  two.  But  it  was  never  sent  me — the  reason,  let 
the  reader  imagine.  On  landing  at  the  wharf  Casildar,  we  were 
immediately  taken  by  soldiers  to  the  guard  house,  which  was  a 
very  filthy  place;  thinking  I  suppose,  and  even  calling  us  pirates. 
Soon  some  friends  came  to  see  me.  Mr.  Cotton,  who  resides 
there  brought  us  in  some  soup.  Mr.  Isaac  W.  Lord,  of  Boston, 
my  merchant,  came  with  Captain  Tate,  who  sent  immediately  to 
the  governor;  for  I  would  nit  show  my  papers  to  any  one  else. 
He  came  about  sunset,  and  after  examining  Manuel  my  Spanish 
fellow  prisoner,  and  my  papers,  said  to  me,  giving  me  the  papers, 
"  Captain,  you  are  at  liberty."  I  was  kindly  invited  by  Captain 
Matthew  Rice,  of  schooner  Galaxy,  of  Boston,  to  go  on  board 
his  vessel,  and  live  with  him  during  my  stay  there.  This  gener- 
ous offer  I  accepted,  and  was  treated  by  him  with  the  greatest 
hospitality;  for  I  was  an  hungered  and  he  gave  me  meat,  I  was 
athirst  and  he  gave  me  drink,  I  was  naked  and  he  clothed  me, 
a  stranger  and  he  took  me  in.  He  likewise  took  Manuel  and  my 
three  men  for  that  night.  Next  day  Mr.  Lord  rendered  me  all 
necessary  assistance  in  making  my  protest.  He  had  heard  noth- 
ing from  me  until  my  arrival.  I  was  greatly  disappointed  in  not 
finding  Mr.  Bracket,  and  requested  Mr.  Lord  to  give  him  all 
needful  aid  if  he  should  come  there.  To  Captain  Carnes,  of  the 
schooner  Hannah,  of  Boston,  I  would  tender  my  sincere  thanks, 
for  his  kindness  in  giving  me  a  passage  to  Boston,  which  I  gladly 
accepted.  To  those  gentlemen  of  Trinidad,  and  many  captains 
of  American  vessels,  who  gave  me  sea  clothing,  &c.  I  offer  my 
cordial  gratitude. 

Captain*  Carnes  sailed  from  Trinidad  on  the  20th  February. 
Fearing  the  pirates,  we  kept  a  long  distance  from  the  land  arid 
two  degrees  to  westward  of  Cape  Antonia.  On  our  passage  ex- 
perienced several  gales  of  wind,  in  one  of  which,  while  lying 


NARRATIVE    OF     CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  465 

to,  shipped  a  sea,  which  did  considerable  injury,  and  swept  a 
young  man  overboard  from  the  pump,  named  Nelson.  We  never 
saw  him  again.  We  arrived  at  Boston,  March  25th,  and  when  I 
stepped  upon  the  wharf,  though  much  emaciated,  I  felt  truly 
happy. 

I  am  fully  of  the  opinion  that  these  ferocious  pirates  are  linked 
in  with  many  inhabitants  of  Cuba;  and  the  government  in  many 
respects  appears  covertly  to  encourage  them. 

It  is  with  heartfelt  delight,  that,  since  the  above  narrative  was 
written,  I  have  learned  that  Mr.  Bracket  and  his  companions  are 
safe;  he  arrived  at  Port  d'Esprit,  about  forty  leagues  east  of 
Trinidad.  A  letter  has  been  received  from  him,  stating  that  he 
should  proceed  to  Trinidad  the  first  opportunity. — It  appears  that 
after  reaching  the  wreck,  they  found  a  boat  from  the  shore, 
taking  on  board  some  of  the  Exertion's  cargo,  in  which  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  above  place.  Why  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  come 
to  our  relief  will  no  doubt  be  satisfactorily  disclosed  when  he  may 
be  so  fortunate  as  once  more  to  return  to  his  native  country  and 
friends. 

For  many  months,  I  remained  without  any  certain  information 
respecting  the  fate  of  Mr.  Bracket  and  his  companions.  But  in 
the  course  of  the  ensuing  Autumn,  if  I  recollect  right,  Mr.  Bracket 
very  unexpectedly  paid  me  a  visit,  at  Hingham,  the  place  of  my 
residence.  We  were  mutually  rejoiced  to  see  each  other  once 
more  among  the  living,  as  for  a  time  at  least,  each  had  regarded  the 
other  as  dead.  He  gave  me  an  account  of  his  adventures,  and  of 
the  reasons,  why  he  did  not  return  to  us.  He  told  me  that  when 
they  left  us,  and  put  to  sea,  in  the  miserable  boat,  which  we  had 
constructed,  they  went  to  the  Exertion,  and  fortunately  found  a 
better  boat,  of  which  they  took  possession,  and  suffered  the  old  one 
to  float  away,  and  it  accordingly  passed  our  solitary  island,  in  its 
random  course,  causing  us  a  great  deal  of  alarm.  From  the 
wreck,  they  steered  among  the  keys  to  the  main-land  of  Cuba, 
and  reached  Principe,  the  town  where  my  cargo  was  sold.  Here 
Mr.  Bracket  related  his  tale  of  suffering,  and  requested  assis- 
tance, to  rescue  the  remaining  prisoners,  on  the  key.  The 
authorities  furnished  him  with  several  soldiers,  with  whom  he 
again  put  to  sea,  with  the  humane  intention  of  coming  to  relieve 
us.  They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  however,  when  the  sol- 
diers positively  refused  to  go  any  farther,  and  forced  him  to  re- 
turn with  them  to  Principe;  thus  all  his  hopes  of  being  able  to 
rescue  us.  were  entirely  extinguished.  A  stranger,  and  helpless 
as.  he  was,  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  do  any  thing  more,  and  he 
could  onlv  hope  that  we  might  have  been  saved  in  some  other 
way.  Friendless,  without  money,  and  debilitated  by  recent  suf- 
fering, he  hardly  "knew  which  way  to  turn.  He  was  desirous  of 
reaching  home,  and  finally  resolved  to  travel  to  the  north  side 
of  Cuba.  After  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  during  which  he 


466  NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

suffered  dreadfully,  from  the  hard  travelling,  and  want  of  neces- 
saries and  comforts,  he  at  length  arrived  at  Havannah,  from 
which  port  he  took  passage  h.oine  to  Boston.  Thus  the  reasons 
of  his  conduct  were  satisfactorily  explained,  and  my  uncertainty 
respecting  his  fate,  happily  terminated. 

I  felt  great  anxiety  to  learn  what  became  of  Jamieson,  who, 
my  readers  will  recollect,  was  detained  on  board  the  Spanish  Brig 
Prudentee  near  Trinidad.  I  heard  nothing  from  him,  until  I 
believe  about  eighteen  months  after  I  reached  home,  when  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  him,  from  Montego  Bay  Jamaica,  informing 
me  that  he  was  then  residing  in  that  island.  I  immediately  wrote 
to  him,  and  invited  him  to  come  on  to  the  United  States.  He 
accordingly  came  on  passenger  with  Captain  Wilson  of  Cohas- 
set,  and  arrived  in  Boston,  in  August  18.24.  Our  meeting  was  very 
affecting.  Trying  scenes  were  brought  up  before  us;  scenes 
gone  forever,  through  which  we  had  passed  together,  where  our 
acquaintance  was  formed,  and  since  which  time,  we  had  never 
met.  I  beheld  once  more  the  Preserver  of  my  life;  the  instru- 
ment, under  Providence,  of  restoring  me  to  my  home,  my  family, 
and  my  friends,  and  I  regarded  him  with  no  ordinary  emotion. 
My  family  were  delighted  to  see  him,  and  cordially  united  in 
giving  him  a  warm  reception.  He  told  me  that  after  we  separated 
in  Trinidad,  he  remained  on  board  the  Spanish  Brig.  The  Com- 
mander asked  him  and  his  companions  if  they  would  enlist;  the 
Frenchmen  replied  that  they  would,  but  he  said  nothing,  being 
determined  to  make  his  escape,  the  very  first  opportunity  which 
should  .present.  The  Spanish  Brig  afterwards  fell  in  with  a 
Columbian  Patriot,  an  armed  Brig  of  eighteen  guns.  Being  of 
about  equal  force,  they  gave  battle,  and  fought  between  three 
and  four  hours.  Both  parties  were  very  much  injured;  and,  with- 
out any  considerable  advantage  on  either  side,  both  drew  off  to 
make  repairs.  The  Spanish  Brig  Prudentee,  put  into  St.  Jago 
de  Cuba.  Jamieson  was  wounded  in  the  action,  by  a  musket 
bajl,  thrrrugh  his  arm,  and  was  taken  on  shore,  with  the  other 
wounded,  and  placed  in  the  hospital  at  St.  Jago.  Here  he  re- 
mained for  a  considerable  time,  until  he  had  nearly  recovered, 
when  he  found  an  opportunity  of  escaping,  and  embarked  for 
Jamaica.  He  arrived  in  safety  at  Kingston,  and  from  there, 
travelled  barefoot  over  the  mountains,  until  very  much  exhausted, 
he  reached  Montego  Bay,  where  he  had  friends,  and  where  one 
of  his  brothers  possessed  some  property.  From  this  place,  he 
afterwards  wrote  to  me.  He  told  me  that  before  he  came  to 
Massachusetts,  he  saw  the  villainous  pilot  of  the  Mexican,  the 
infamous  Baltizar,  with  several  other  pirates,  brought  into  Mon- 
tego Bay,  from  whence  they  were  to  be  conveyed  to  Kingston,  to 
be  executed.  Whether  the  others  were  part  of  the  Mexican's 
crew,  or  not,  I  do  not  know.  Baltizar  was  an  old  man,  and  as 
Jamieson  said,  it  was  a  melancholy  and  heart-rending  sight,  to  see 


NARRATIVE    OF    CAPTAIN    LINCOLN.  467 

him  borne  to  execution  with  those  gray  hairs,  which  might  have 
been  venerable  in  virtuous  old  age,  now  a  shame  and  reproach  to 
this  hoary  villain,  for  he  was  full  of  years,  and  old  in  iniquity. 
When  Jamieson  received  the  letter  which  I  wrote  him,  he  imme- 
diately embarked  with  Captain  Wilson,  and  came  to  Boston,  as 
I  have  before  observed. 

According  to  his  own  account  he  was  of  a  very  respectable 
family  in  Greenoch,  Scotland.  His  father  when  living  was  a 
rich  cloth  merchant,  but  both  his  father,  and  mother,  had 
been  dead  many  years.  He  was  the  youngest  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, and  being  as  he  said  of  a  roving  disposition,  had  al- 
ways followed  the  seas.  He  had  received  a  polite  education, 
and  was  of  a  very  gentlemanly  deportment.  He  spoke  sev- 
eral living  languages,  and  was  skilled  in  drawing  and  paint- 
ing. He  had  travelled  extensively  in  different  countries,  and 
acquired  in  consequence,  an  excellent  knowledge  of  their  man- 
ners and  customs.  His  varied  information  (for  hardly  any 
subject  escaped  him,)  rendered  him  a  very  entertaining  companion. 
His  observations  on  the  character  of  different  nations  were  very 
liberal;  marking  their  various  traits,  their  virtues  and  vices,  with 
playful  humorousness,  quite  free  £rom  bigotry,  or  narrow  preju- 
dice. 

He  was  in  France,  during  the  disturbance  between  France 
and  England,  when  all  British  subjects  whatever  in  France 
were  detained  prisoners  of  war.  He  was  one  who  was  thus 
compelled  to  remain  a  prisoner  to  Napoleon.  He  was  there,  at 
the  time  of  Napoleon's  memorable  expedition  to  Russia;  and  saw 
the  splendid  troops  of  the  Emperor  when  they  left  delightful 
France  to  commence  their  toilsome,  and  fatal  journey;  and  also 
the  remnant  when  they  returned,  broken  down,  dispirited,  hag- 
gard, and  wan,  their  garments  hanging  about  them  in  tatters,  and 
hardly  life  enough  in  them  to  keep  soul  and  body  together.  The 
particulars  respecting  this  period,  he  could  communicate  with  the 
minuteness  of  an  eye-witness,  which  consequently  rendered  them 
very  interesting.  During  the  first  part  of  his  residence  in  France, 
he  was  supported  by  remittances  from  his  father,  and  allowed  the 
liberty  of  the  city  of  Valenciennes;  a  gentleman  there,  being 
bound  for  his  good  behavior.  He  thus  had  an  opportunity  of 
visiting,  and  becoming  acquainted  with  the  inhabitants.  He 
lived  in  this  manner  several  years.  At  length  aroused,  as  he 
said,  by  the  consciousness  that  he  was  spending  the  best  days  of 
his  life  in  idleness,  he  formed  the  determination  to  try  and  make 
his  escape  from  the  country.  He  honorably  released  the  gentle- 
man who  was  bound  for  him,  from  his  obligation,  frankly  telling 
him  that  he  should  run  away  the  first  opportunity.  From  this 
time  he  was  alternately  arrested  and  imprisoned,  and  by  various 
stratagems  effected  his  escape,  until  he  had  been  placed  in  ninety- 
three  different  prisons.  During  his  wanderings,  he  climbed  the 


468  NARRATIVE    OF     CAPTAIN    LINCOLN. 

Alps,  and  visited  the  famous  passage,  cut  through  the  solid  rock, 
by  Hannibal,  which  as  he  said,  was  of  sufficient  magnitude 
to  admit  a  large  loaded  wagon  to  pass  through.  From  his  long 
residence  in  France,  he  had  learned  to  speak  the  French  language 
with  a  facility,  almost  equal  to  a  native.  The  charm  of  his 
conversation  and  manners  drew  people  around  him,  they  hardly 
knew  how,  or  why. 

I  was  in  trade,  between  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  at  the  time 
he  came  to  Massachusetts,  and  he  sailed  with  me  several  trips 
as  my  mate.  He  afterwards  went  to  Cuba,  and  was  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  mackerel  fishery,  out  of  the  port  of  Hingham,  during 
the  warm  season,  and  in  the  winter  frequently  employed  himself 
in  teaching  navigation  to  young  men,  for  which  he  was  eminently 
qualified.  He  remained  with  us,  until  his  death,  Avhich  took 
place  in  1829.  At  this  time  he  had  been  out  at  sea  two  or  three 
days,  when  he  was  taken  sick,  and  was  carried  into  Cape  Cod, 
where  he  died,  on  the  first  day  of  May  1829,  and  there  his  re- 
mains lie  buried.  Peace  be  to  his  ashes!  They  rest  in  a  strange 
land,  far  from  his  kindred,  and  his  native  country. 

Since  his  death  I  have  met  with  Mr.  Stewart  in  Philadelphia, 
who  was  Commercial  Agent  in  Trinidad  at  the  time  of  my 
capture.  He  informed  me,  that  the  piratical  schooner  Mexi- 
can, was  afterwards  chased  by  an  English  government  vessel, 
from  Jamaica,  which  was  cruising  in  search  of  it.  Being  hotly 
pursued  the  pirates  deserted  their  vessel,  and /fled  to  the  Man- 
grove bushes,  on  an  island  similar  to  that  on  which  they  had 
placed  me  and  my  crew  to  die.  The  English  surrounded  them, 
and  thus  they  were  cut  off  from  all  hope  of  escape.  They  remained 
there,  I  think  fourteen  days,  when  being  almost  entirely  subdued 
by  famine,  eleven  surrendered  themselves,  and  were  taken.  The 
others  probably  perished  among  the  mangroves.  The  few  who 
were  taken  were  carried  by  the  government  vessel  into  Trinidad. 
Mr.  Stewart  said  that  he  saw  them  himself,  and  such  miserable 
objects  that  had  life  he  never  before  beheld.  They  were  in  a 
state  of  starvation;  their  beards  had  grown  to  a  frightful  length, 
their  bodies  were  covered  with  filth  and  vermin,  and  their  coun- 
tenances were  hideous.  From  Trinidad  they  were  taken  to 
Kingston,  Jamaica,  and  there  hung.  Thus  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  this  horde  of  monsters  was  at  last  broken  up,  and 
dispersed. 


GREENWICH    HOSPITAL. 


469 


GREENWICH   HOSPITAL. 


Greenwich,  which  was  formerly  a  distinct  town,  but  is  now  an 
appendage  to  the  British  metropolis,  is  seated  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  Thames,  five  miles  below  London  bridge.  It  is  celebrated 
for  its  hospital  for  wounded  and  decayed  seamen  of  the  national 


Greenwich   Hospital. 

marine,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  architectural  edifices  in  the 
world.  The  buildings  consist  of  four  distinct  piles,  two  along 
the  bank  of  the  river,  with  a  noble  terrace  in  front,  eight  hundred 
and  sixty  feet  in  length;  between  these  two  piles  is  a  lawn  two 
hundred  and  seventy  feet  wide;  the  two  other  piles  are  built  be- 
hind, projecting  into  the  square  or  'awn,  so  as  to  form  a  quadran- 
gle with  an  opening  in  the  centre,  which  is  terminated  by  an 
elegant  building  more  recently  erected  for  a  naval  school;  behind 
this,  on  the  summit  of  a  hill,  is  the  royal  observatory,  from  whence 
the  English  and  American  mariners  reckon  their  longitude.  The 
hill  at  this  point,  if  the  atmosphere  happens  by  rare  good  fortune 
to  be  clear,  commands  a  grand  view  of  London  and  the  space 
intervening.  It  projects  so  boldly,  that  the  tops  of  the  trees  ap- 
pear at  tfie  feet  of  the  spectator — the  hospital,  w'tn  its  domes, 
appears  embosomed  in  a  wooded  amphitheatre — and  the  river  in 
its  serpentine  course,  thicker  and  thicker  covered  with  boats, 
barges,  and  large  vessels. 

40 


470  LOSS    OF    THE    SHIP    BOSTON. 

Greenwich  hospital  is  decorated  by  several  colossal  statues  and 
beautiful  pieces  of  sculpture.  One  is  an  emblematical  represent- 
ation of  the  death  of  Nelson. 

The  pensioners  to  be  received  into  the  hospital  must  be  aged 
and  maimed  seamen  of  the  navy,  or  of  the  merchant  service,  if 
wounded  in  battle,  and  marines  and  foreigners  who  have  served 
two  years  in  the  navy.  The  total  expense  of  the  establishment  is 
sixty-nine  thousand  pounds  per  annum,  which  is  appropriated  to 
the  support  of  about  three  thousand  seamen  on  the  premises,  and 
fifty-four  hundred  out-pensioners. 


LOSS  OF  THE   SHIP  BOSTON. 

An  unusual  degree  of  sensation  was  excited  in  Boston,  on  the 
first  of  June,  by  the  melancholy  tidings  of  the  loss  of  the  packet 
ship  Boston.  This  strong  and  elegant  ship — one  of  the  finest 
packets  that  belong  to  this  country — was  struck  by  lightning  in 
the  Gulf  Stream,  six  days  out  from  Charleston,  and  burnt  to  the 
water's  edge.  We  present  the  details  below,  as  furnished  by 
Captain  Mackay.  "On  Tuesday,  the  25th  May,  lat.  39,  31, 
long.  63,  46,  commenced  with  fresh  breeze  and  squally  weather 
— at  2  P.  M.  heavy  rain  which  continued  until  sunset — at  8  P.  M. 
forked  lightning  in  the  southwest,  and  dark  and  heavy  clouds  ris- 
ing from  the  westward — at  9,  the  wind  hauled  to  the  westvvaid — • 
at  10,  P.  M.  a  heavy  cloud  began  to  rise  in  the  southwest — at 
10|,  sharp  lightning,  clued  up  the  topgallant-sails,  and  hauled  the 
mainsail  up — at  11,  heavy  thunder  and  sharp  lightning;  the  sec- 
ond flash  struck  the  ship,  burst  the  main  royal  from  the  gaskets 
and  burnt  it;  knocked  down  the  steward  and  Isaac  Hopkins  a 
sailor,  and  filled  the  ship  full  of  electric  fluid.  We  examined  the 
ship  immediately  to  ascertain  if  the  masts  were  injured,  or  the 
lightning  had  passed  through  the  deck;  but  the  mast  appeared 
uninjured,  a  bright  complaisance  resting  on  each  royal-mast  head. 
We  single  reefed  the  maintop-sail,  and  were  about  to  haul  the 
mainsail,  when  we  ascertained  that  the  ship  was  on  fire.  We 
immediately  cleared  the  main  and  after  hatchways,  to  get  at  the 
fire,  heaving  the  cotton  overboard  and  cutting  holes  in  the  deck, 
plying  water  in  every  direction — but  all  in  vain;  the  cotton  in  the 
main  hold  was  on  fire,  fore  and  aft,  on  both  sides,  burning  like 
tinder.  Our  only  alternative  was  to  clear  away  the  boats  and 
get  them  out,  part  of  the  crew  and  passengers  at  work  keeping  the 
fire  down  as  much  as  possible  by  drawing  and  heaving  water, 
the  scuppers  being  stopped  up;  we  stove  water  casks  over  holes 
.;ut  in  the  deck  and  in  the  main  hatchway;  starting  the  water, 


LOSS  OF  THE  SHIP  BOSTON.  471 

but  all  to  no  good  purpose,  for  before  we  could  get  the  long  boat 
over  the  ship's  side,  the  fire  had  burst  through  the  deck  and  out 
the  larboard  side  of  the  ship.  The  flames  raged  with  such  vio- 
lence and  consumed  the  vessel  so  quick,  that  nothing  could  be 
saved  from  the  wreck.  We  got  about  forty  gallons  of  water  and 
provisions  sufficient,  on  a  short  allowance,  to  keep  the  passengers 
and  crew  alive  for  three  weeks — almost  every  thing  else  was 
burnt  up  in  the  ship,  even  the  money,  watches,  and  clothes — all 
destroyed.  At  3,  A.  M.  the  main  and  mizen  masts  were  burnt 
off  below  deck,  and  the  masts  fell  in  the  water  at  half-past  3,  the 
passengers  and  crew  were  all  in  the  boats;  the  flames  had  then 
reached  the  forecastle,  and  the  ship  was  one  complete  flame  of 
fire,  fore  and  aft.  The  passengers  had  exerted  themselves  to  the 
utmost  to  assist  us.  The  officers  had  with  unwearied  exertion, 
coolness,  and  persevering  activity  done  all  that  men  could  do. 
The  ship's  crew  worked  like  horses  and  behaved  like  men;  but 
all  would  not  do. — About  three  hours  time  had  changed  one  of 
the  best  ships  that  ever  swam  to  a  complete  volcano,  and  twenty- 
three  persons  cast  adrift  on  the  open  ocean.  The  cabin  passen 
gers  were  Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin  and  servant,  Dr.  William 
Boag,  and  his  sister  Miss  Ansella  Boag,  Mr.  Niel  McNeil,  and 
Mr.  Samuel  S.  Osgood.  It  was  then  raining  and  the  sea  was 
running  high,  and  every  person  drenched  through  with  water;  in 
this  situation  the  constitution  of  Miss  Boag,  the  only  lady  pas- 
senger, soon  gave  way.  This  amiable  young  lady's  firmness  of 
conduct  at  the  first  alarm  of  fire,  and  during  the  whole  scene,  is 
worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  To  the  divine  will  of  her  God  she 
submitted  without  a  murmur,  and  at  1 1  o'clock  on  Wednesday, 
in  the  boat,  she  died  in  the  arms  of  her  brother,  thanking  him  in 
the  most  affectionate  manner  for  his  kindness,  giving  her  bles- 
sing to  us  all.  On  the  following  day,  she  was  buried  with  the 
church  service,  our  situation  not  admitting  of  the  corpse  being 
kept  longer  in  the  boat.  We  remained  in  the  boats  near  the  fire 
of  the  wreck,  two  days,  and  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.  on  Thursday, 
were  taken  on  board  the  brig  Idas,  of  Liverpool,  N.  S.  from 
Demarara,  bound  to  Halifax,  Captain  Joseph  Barnaby,  who  with 
his  officers  and  crew  treated  us  with  every  lyndness  and  attention. 
We  remained  on  board  the  brig  two  days,  when  Sunday  morning, 
May  30th,  falling  in  with  the  brig  Camilla,  Captain  Robert  B. 
Edes,  he  was  good  enough  to  offer  us  a  passage  to  Boston,  and 
received  us  on  board  his  vessel." 

Admiral  sir  Isaac  Coffin,  after  landing  from  the  brig  Camilla, 
authorized  his  agent  to  present  Captain  Mackay  with  a  check  for 
five  hundred  dollars;  and  subsequently  sent  him  an  elegant  gold 
watch,  tp  replace  one  which  he  had  lost  by  the  destruction  of  the 
ship. 


472  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    KENT. 

THE  LOSS  OF  THE  KENT. 

COMMUNICATED    BY    AN    EYE    WITNESS. 

The  Kent,  Captain  Henry  Cobb,  a  fine  new  ship  of  one  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  bound  to  Bengal  and  China, 
left  the  Downs  on  the  1 9th  of  February,  with  twenty  officers,  three 
hundred  and  forty-four  soldiers,  forty-three  women,  and  sixty-six 
children,  belonging  to  the  thirty-first  regiment;  with  twenty  pri- 
vate passengers,  and  a  crew  (including  officers)  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  men  on  board. 

On  the  night  of  Monday,  the  28th  of  February  1827,  when  the 
Kent  was  in  Tat.  47  degrees  30  minutes,  Ion.  10  degrees,  a  violent 
gale  blew  from  the  west,  and  gradually  increased  during  the  follow- 
ing morning.  The  rolling  of  the  vessel  became  tremendous  about 
midnight,  so  that  the  best  fastened  articles  of  furniture  in  the 
principal  cabins  were  dashed  about  with  violence,  and  the  main 
chains  were  thrown  at  every  lurch  under  water. 

It  was  a  little  before  this  period,  that  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
ship,  with  the  well-meant  intention  of  ascertaining  that  all  was  fast 
below,  descended  with  two  of  the  sailors  into  the  hold,  where  they 
carried  with  them,  for  safety,  a  light  in  the  patent  lantern;  and 
seeing  that  the  lamp  burned  dimly,  the  officer  took  the  precaution 
to  hand  it  up  to  the  orlop-deck  to  be  trimmed.  Having  after- 
wards discovered  one  of  the  spirit  casks  to  be  adrift,  he  sent  the 
sailors  for  some  billets  of  wood  to  secure  it;  but  the  ship  in  their 
absence  having  made  a  heavy  lurch,  the  officer  unfortunately 
dropped  the  light;  and  letting  go  his  hold  of  the  cask  in  his  eager- 
ness to  recover  the  lantern,  it  suddenly  stove,  and  the  spirits  com- 
municating with  the  lamp,  the  whole  place  Was  instantly  in  a 
blaze. 

It  so  happened  that  the  author,  went  into  the  cuddy  to  observe 
the  state  of  the  barometer,  when  he  received  from  Captain  Spence, 
the  captain  of  the  day,  the  alarming  information  that  the  ship  was 
on  fire  in  the  after  hold. 

As  long  as  the  devouring  element  appeared  to  be  confined  to 
the  spot  where  the  fire  originated,  and  which  we  were  assured 
was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  water  casks,  we  ventured  to  cherish 
hopes  that  it  might  be  subdued;  but  no  sooner  was  the  light  blue 
vapor  that  at  first  arose  succeeded  by  volumes  of  thick  dingy 
smoke,  which  speedily  ascended  through  all  the  four  hatchways, 
rolling  over  every  part  of  the  ship,  than  all  farther  concealment 
became  impossible,  and  almost  all  hope  of  preserving  the  vessel 
was  abandoned.  "  The  flames  have  reachedthe  cable  tier,"  was 
exclaimed  by  some  individuals,  and  the  strong  pitchy  smell  that 
icrvaded  the  deck  confirmed  the  truth  of  the  exclamation. 

In  these   awful  circumstances  Captain  €obb,  with  an  ability 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    KENT.  473 

and  decision  of  character  that  seemed  to  increase  with  the  immi- 
nence of  the  danger,  resorted  to  the  only  alternative  now  left  him, 
of  ordering  the  lower  deck  to  be  scuttled,  the  combing  of  the 
hatches  to  be  cut,  and  the  lower  ports  to  be  opened,  for  the  free 
admission  of  the  waves. 

These  instructions  were  speedily  executed  by  the  united  efforts 
of  the  troops  and  seamen:  but  not  before  some  of  the  sick  soldiers, 
one  woman,  and  several  children,  unable  to  gain  the  upper  deck, 
had  perished.  On  descending  to  the  gun-deck  with  colonel  Fear- 
on,  Captain  Bray,  and  one  or  two  other  officers  of  the  31st  regi- 
ment to  assist  in  opening  the  ports,  I  met,  staggering  towards  the 
hatchway,  in  an  exhausted  and  nearly  senseless  state,  one  of  the 
mates,  who  informed  us  that  he  had  just  stumbled  over  the  dead 
bodies  of  some  individuals  who  must  have  died  from  suffocation, 
to  which  it  was  evident  that  he  himself  had  almost  fallen  a  victim. 
So  dense  and  oppressive  was  the  smoke,  that  it  was  with  the  ut- 
most difficulty  we  could  remain  long  enough  below  to  fulfil  Cap- 
tain Cobb's  wishes;  which  were  no  sooner  accomplished  than  the 
sea  rushed  in  with  extraordinary  force,  carrying  away  in  its  resist- 
less progress  t>  the  hold,  the  largest  chests,  bulk-heads,  Sec. 

On  the  one  hand  stood  death  by  fire,  on  the  other  death  by  wa- 
ter; the  dilemma  was  dreadful.  Preferring  always  the  more  re- 
mote alternative,  the  unfortunate  crew  were  at  one  moment  at- 
tempting to  check  the  fire  by  means  of  water;  and  when  the 
water  became  the  most  threatening  enemy,  their  efforts  were 
turned  to  the  exclusion  of  the  waves,  and  the  fire  was  permitted 
to  rage  with  all  its  fury. 

The  scene  of  horror  that  now  presented  itself,  baffles  all  de- 
scription— The  upper  deck  was  covered  with  between  six  and 
seven  hundred  human  beings,  many  of  whom,  from  previous  sea 
sickness,  were  forced  on  the  first  alarm  to  flee  from  below  in  a 
state  of  absolute  nakedness,  and  were  now  running  about  in  quest 
of  husbands,  children  or  parents. 

While  some  were  standing  in  silent  resignation,  or  in  stupid 
insensibility  to  their  impending  fate,  others  were  yielding  them- 
selves up  to  the  most  frantic  despair.  Some  on  their  knees  were 
earnestly  imploring,  with  significant  gesticulations  and  in  noisy 
supplications,  the  mercy  of  Him,  whose  arm  they  exclaimed,  was 
at  length  outstretched  to  smite  them;  others  were  to  be  seen 
hastily  crossing  themselves,  and  performing  the  various  external 
acts  required  by  their  peculiar  persuasion,  while  a  number  of  the 
older  and  more  stout-hearted  sailors  suddenly  took  their  scuts 
directly  over  the  magazine,  hoping  as  they  stated,  that  by  means 
of  the  explosion,  which  they  every  instant  expected,  a  speedier 
termination  might  thereby  be  put  to  their  sufferings.* 

*ra;t\in  Cuhb,  with  cre.it  forethought,  ordered  the  deck  to  be  scuttled  forward,  with  a 
view  to  draw  the  fire  in  that  direction,  knnwinz  that  between  it  and  the  magazine  were 
several  tiers  of  water  casks  ;  while  lie  hoped  that  the  wet  s:\ils,  «fcc.  thrown  into  the  after 
hold,  would  prevent  it  from  communicating  with  the  spirit-room  abaft. 

40* 


474  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    KENT. 

Several  of  the  soldiers'  wives  and  children,  who  had  fled  for 
temporary  shelter  into  the  after  cabins  on  the  upper  deck,  were 
engaged  in  praying  and  in  reading  the  scriptures  with  the  ladies, 
some  of  whom  were  enabled  with  wonderful  self-possession,  to 
offer  to  others  those  spiritual  consolations,  which  a  firm  and  in- 
telligent trust  in  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  appeared  at  this  aw- 
ful hour  to  impart  to  their  own  breasts. 

All  hope  had  departed!  trie  employment  of  the  different  indi- 
viduals indicated  utter  despair  of  rescue — one  was  removing  a 
lock  of  hair  from  his  writing  desk  to  his  bosom  —others  were 
awaiting  their  fate  in  stupor — some  with  manly  fortitude — others 
bewailing  it  with  loud  and  bitter  lamentation — and  part  were  oc- 
cupied in  prayer  and  mutual  encouragement. 

It  was  at  this  appalling  instant,  when  "  all  hope  that  we  should 
be  saved  was  taken  away,"  that  it  occurred  to  Mr.  Thompson, 
the  fourth  mate,  to  send  a  man  to  the  foretop,  rather  with  the 
ardent  wish  than  the  expectation,  that  some  friendly  sail  might 
be  discovered  on  the  face  of  the  waters.  The  sailor,  on  mount- 
ing, threw  his  eyes  round  the  horizon  for  a  moment — a  moment 
of  unutterable  suspense — and  waving  his  hat,  exclaimed,  "  A  sail 
on  the  lee-bow!"  The  joyful  announcement  was  received  with 
deep-felt  thanksgiving,  and  with  three  cheers  upon  deck.  Our 
flags  of  distress  were  instantly  hoisted,  and  our  minute  guns  fired; 
and  we  endeavored  to  bear  down  under  our  three-topsails  and  fore- 
sail upon  the  stranger,  which  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  Cam- 
pria,  a  small  brig  of  two  hundred  tons  burden,  —  Cook,  bound  to 
Vera  Cruz,  having  on  board  twenty  or  thirty  Cornish  miners,  and 
other  agents  of  the  Anglo-Mexican  company. 

While  Captain  Cobb,  colonel  Fearon,  and  major  Macgregor 
of  the  31st  regiment,  were  consulting  together,  as  the  brig  was 
approaching  us,  on  the  necessary  preparations  for  getting  out  the 
boats,  &c.  one  of  the  officers  asked  major  M.  in  what  order  it 
was  intended  the  officers  should  move  off?  to  which  the  other 
replied,  "of  course  the  funeral  order;"  which  injunction  was 
instantly  confirmed  by  Colonel  Fearon,  who  said,  "  Most  undoubt- 
edly the  juniors  first — but  see  that  any  man  is  cut  down  who  pre- 
sumes to  enter  the  boats  before  the  means  of  escape  are  presented 
to  the  women  and  children." 

Arrangements  having  been  considerately  made  by  Captain 
Cobb  for  placing  in  the  first  boat,  previous  to  letting  it  down,  all 
the  ladies,  and  as  many  of  the  soldiers'  wives  as  it  could  safely 
contain,  they  hurriedly  wrapt  themselves  up  in  whatever  article 
of  clothing  could  be  most  conveniently  found;  and  I  think  about 
two,  or  half  past  two  o'clock,  a  most  mournful  procession  advanc- 
ed from  the  after  cabins  to  the  star-board  cuddy  port,  outside  of 
which  the  cutter  was  suspended.  Scarcely  a  word  was  heard — 
not  a  scream  was  uttered — even  the  infants  ceased  to  cry,  as  if 
conscious  of  the  unspoken  an'd  unspeakable  anguish  that  was  at 


l 


THE    LOSS    OE    THE    KENT.  476 

this  instant  rending*  the  hearts  of  the  parting  parents — nor  was 
the  silence  of  voices  in  any  way  broken,  except  in  one  or  two 
cases,  where  the  ladies  plaintively  entreated  to  be  left  behind 
with  their  husbands.  But  on  being  assured  that  every  moment's 
delay  might  occasion  the  sacrifice  of  a  human  life,  they  succes- 
sively suffered  themselves  to  be  torn  from  the  tender  embrace, 
and  with  a  fortitude  which  never  fails  to  characterize  and  adorn 
their  sex  on  occasions  of  overwhelming  trial,  were  placed,  with- 
out a  murmur,  in  the  boat,  which  was  immediately  lowered  into 
a  sea  so  tempestuous,  as  to  leave  us  only  "  to  hope  against  hope  " 
that  it  should  live  in  it  for  a  single  moment.  Twice  the  cry  was 
heard  from  those  on  the  chains  that  the  boat  was  swamping. 
Jjct  lie  who  enabled  the  Apostle  Peter  to  walk  on  the  face  of  the 
deep,  and  was  graciously  attending  to  the  silent  but  earnest 
aspirations  of  those  on  board,  had  decreed  its  safety. 

After  one  or  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  place  the  little  frail 
bark  fairly  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  command  was  at 
length  given  to  unhook;  the  tackle  at  the  stern  was  in  conse- 
quence, immediately  cleared;  but  the  ropes  at  the  bow  having 

3t  foul,  the  sailor  there  found  it  impossible  to  obey  the  order, 
n  vain  was  the  axe  applied  to  the  entangled  tackle.  The  moment 
was  inconceivably  critical;  as  the  boat,  which  necessarily  follow- 
ed the  motion  of  the  ship,  was  gradually  rising  out  of  the  water, 
and  must,  in  another  instant  have  been  hanging  perpendicularly 
by  the  bow,  and  its  helpless  passengers  launched  into  the  deep, 
had  not  a  most  providential  wave  suddenly  struck  and  lifted  up 
the  stern,  so  as  to  enable  the  seaman  to  disengage  the  tackle; 
and  the  boat  being  dexterously  cleared  from  the  ship,  was 
seen  after  a  little  while,  battling  with  the  billows:  now  raised, 
in  its  progress  to  the  brig,  like  a  speck  on  their  summit,  and  then 
disappearing  for  several  seconds,  as  if  engulphed  "  in  the  horrid 
vale  "  between  them. 

Two  or  three  soldiers,  to  relieve  their  wives  of  a  part  of  their 
families,  sprang  into  the  water  with  their  children,  and  perished 
in  their  endeavors  to  save  them.  One  young  lady,  who  had  re- 
solutely refused  to  quit  her  father,  whose  sense  of  duty  kept  him 
at  his  post,  was  near  falling  a  sacrifice  to  her  filial  devotion,  n  t 
having  been  picked  up  by  tho^e  in  the  boats,  until  she  had  sunk 
five  or  six  times.  Another  individual,  who  was  reduced  to  the 
frightful  alternative  of  losing  his  wife,  or  his  children,  hastily 
decided  in  favor  of  his  duty  to  the  former.  His  wife  was  accor- 
dingly saved,  but  his  four  children,  alas!  were  left  to  perish.  A 
fine  fellow,  a  soldier,  who  had  neither  wife  nor  child  of  his  own, 
but  who  evinced  the  greatest  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  those  of 
others,  insisted  on  having  three  children  lashed  to  him,  with  whom 
he  plunged  into  the  water;  not  being  able  to  reach  the  boat,  he 
was  drawn  again  into  the  ship  with  his  charge,  but  not  before  two 
of  the  children  had  expired.  One  man  fell  down  the  hatchway 


476  THE    LOSS    OF    THE    KEi\T. 

into  the  flames,  and  another  had  his  back  so  completely  broken 
as  to  have  been  observed  quite  doubled  falling  overboard.  The 
numerous  spectacles  of  individual  loss  and  suffering  were  not  con- 
fined to  the  entrance  upon  the  perilous  voyage  between  the  two 
ships.  One  man  who  fell  beneath  the  boat  and  brig,  had  his 
head  literally  crushed  fine — and  some  others  were  lost  in  their  at- 
tempts to  ascend  the  sides  of  the  Cambria. 

When  the  greater  part  of  the  men  had  been  disposed  of,  the 
gradual  removal  of  the  officers  commenced,  and  was  marked  by 
a  discipline  the  most*  rigid,  and  an  intrepidity  the  most  exemplary: 
none  appearing  to  be  influenced  by  a  vain  and  ostentatious  bravery, 
which  in  cases  of  extreme  peril,  affords- rather  a  presumptive  proof 
of  secret  timidity  than  of  fortitude;  nor  any  betraying  an  unmanly 
or  unsoldier-like  impatience  to  quit  the  ship;  but  with  the  becom- 
ing deportment  of  m^n  neither  paralysed  by,  nor  profanely  insen- 
sible to,  the  accumulating  dangers  that  encompassed  them,  they 
progressively  departed  in  the  different  boats  with  their  soldiers; 
— they  who  happened  to  proceed  first  leaving  behind  them  an 
example  of  coolness  that  could  not  be  unprofitable  to  those  who 
followed. 

Every  individual  was  desired  to  tie  a  rope  round  his  waist. 

While  the  people  were  busily  occupied  in  adopting  this  recom- 
mendation, I  was  surprised,  I  had  almost  said  amused,  by  the 
singular  delicacy  of  one  of  the  Irish  recruits,  who  in  searching 
for  a  rope  in  one  of  the  cabins,  called  out  to  me  that  he  could 
find  none  except  the  cordage  belonging  to  an  officer's  cot,  and 
wished  to  know  whether  there  would  be  any  harm  in  his  appropri- 
ating it  to  his  own  use. 

Again:  As  an  agreeable  proof  too,  of  the  subordination  and  good 
feeling  that  governed  the  poor  soldiers  in  the  midst  of  their  suffer- 
ings, I  ought  to  state  that  toward  evening,  when  the  melancholy 
groupe  who  were  passively  seated  on  the  poop,  exhausted  by  pre- 
vious fatigue,  anxiety  and  fasting,  were  beginning  to  experience 
the  pain  of  intolerable  thirst,  a  box  of  oranges  was  accidentally  dis- 
covered by  some  of  the  men,  who  with  a  degree  of  mingled  con- 
sideration, respect,  and  affection,  that  could  hardly  have  been 
expected  at  such  a  moment,  refused  to  partake  of  the  grateful 
beverage,  until  they  had  afforded  a  share  of  it  to  their  officers. 

The  spanker-boom  of  so  large  a  ship  as  the  Kent,  which  pro- 
jects, I  should  think,  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet  over  the  stern,  rests 
on  ordinary  occasions  about  nineteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the 
water;  but  in  the  position  in  which  we  were  placed,  from  the 
great  height  of  the  sea,  and  consequent  pitching  of  the  ship,  it 
was  frequently  lifted  to  a  height  of  not  less  than  thirty  or  forty 
feet  from  the  surface. 

To  reach  the  rope,  therefore,  that  hung  from  its  extremity,  was 
an  operation  that  seemed  to  require  the  aid  of  as  much  dexterity 
of  hand  as  steadiness  of  head.  For  it  was  not  only  the  nervous- 


THE    LOSS    OF    THE    KENT.  477 

ness  of  creeping  along  the  boom  itself,  or  the  extreme  difficulty 
of  afterwards  seizing  on  and  sliding  down  by  the  rope,  that  we 
had  to  dread,  and  that  occasioned  the  loss  of  some  valuable 
lives,  by  deterring  the  men  from  adopting  this  mode  of  escape: 
but  as  the  bout,  which  one  moment  was  probably  under  the  boom, 
might  be  carried  the  next,  by  the  force  of  the  waves,  fifteen  or 
twenty  yards  away  from  it,  the  unhappy  individual,  whose  best 
calculations  were  thus  defeated,  was  generally  left  swinging  for 
sometime  in  mid-air,  if  he  was  not  repeatedly  plunged  several 
feet  under  water,  or  dashed  with  dangerous  violence  against  the 
sides  of  the  returning  boat — or,  what  not  unfrequently  happened, 
was  forced  to  let  go  his  hold  of  the  rope  altogether.  As  there 
seemed,  however  no  alternative,  I  did  not  hesitate,  notwithstand- 
ing my  comparative  inexperience  and  awkwardness  in  such  a 
situation,  to  throw  my  leg  across  the  perilous  stick;  and  with 
a  heart  extremely  grateful  that  such  means-of  deliverance,  dan- 
gerous as  they  appeared,  were  still  extended  to  me;  and  more 
grateful  still  that  I  had  been  enabled,  in  common  with  others,  to 
discharge  my  honest  duty  to  my  sovereign  and  to  my  fellow- 
soldiers;  I  proceeded  after  confidently  committing  my  spirit,  the 
great  object  of  my  solicitude,  into  the  keeping  of  Him  who  had 
formed  and  redeemed  it,  to  creep  slowly  forward,  feeling  at  every 
step  the  increased  difficulty  of  my  situation.  On  getting  nearly 
to  the  end  of  the  boom,  the  young  officer  whom  I  followed  and 
myself  were  met  with  a  squall  of  wind  and  rain,  so  violent  as  to 
make  us  fain  to  embrace  closely  the  slippery  stick,  without  at- 
tempting for  some  minutes  to  make  any  progress,  and  to  excite 
our  apprehension  that  we  must  relinquish  all  hope  of  reaching 
the  rope.  But  our  fears  were  disappointed,  and  after  resting  for 
awhile  at  the  boom  end,  while  my  companion  was  descending  to 
the  boat,  w^iich  he  did  not  find  until  he  had  been  plunged  once  or 
twice  over  head  in  the  water.  I  prepared  to  follow;  and  instead 
of  lowering  myself,  as  many  had  imprudently  done  at  the  moment 
when  the  boat  was  inclining  towards  us — and  consequently  being 
unable  to  descend  the  whole  distance  before  it  again  receded — I 
calculated  that  while  the  boat  was  retiring,  I  ought  to  commence 
my  descent,  which  wQuld  probably  he  completed  by  the  time  the 
returning  wave  brought  it  underneath;  by  which  means  I  was,  I 
believe,  almost  the  only  officer  or  soldier  who  reached  the  boat 
without  being  either  severely  bruised  or  immersed  in  the  water. 
But  my  friend  Colonel  Fearon  had  not  been  so  fortunate;  for 
after  swimming  for  sometime,  and  being  repeatedly  struck  against 
the  side  of  the  boat,  and  at  one  time  drawn  completely  under  it, 
he  was  at  last  so  utterly  exhausted,  that  he  must  instantly  have 
let  go  his  hold  of  the  rope  and  perished,  had  not  one  in  the  boat 
seized  him  by  the  hair  of  the  head  and  dragged  him  into  it,  almost 
senseless  and  alarmingly  bruised. 

Captain  Cobb,  in  his  immovable  resolutions  to  be  the  last,  if 


478  PROPERTIES    OF    THE    SEA. 

possible,  to  quit  his  ship,  and  in  his  generous  anxiety  for  the 
preservation  of  every  life  entrusted  to  his  charge,  refused  to  seek 
the  boat,  until  he  again  endeavored  to  urge  onward  the  few  still 
around  him,  who  seemed  struck  dumb  and  powerless  with  dismay. 
But  finding  all  his  entreaties  fruitless  and  hearing  the  guns,  whose 
tackle  was  burst  asunder  by  the  advancing  flames,  successively 
exploding  in  the  hold  into  which  they  had  fallen — this  gallant 
officer,  after  having  nobly  pursued,  for  the  preservation  of  others, 
a  course  of  exertion  that  has  been  rarely  equalled  either  in  its  du- 
ration or  difficulty,  at  last  felt  it  right  to  provide  for  his  own  safety, 
by  laying  hold  on  the  topping  lift,  or  rope  that  connects  the  driver- 
boom  with  the  mizen-top,  and  thereby  getting  over  the  heads  of 
the  infatuated  men  who  occupied  the  boom,  unable  to  go  either 
backward  or  forward,  and  ultimately  dropping  himself  into  the 
water. 


PROPERTIES  OF  THE  SEA,  &c. 

THE  sea  seems  not  less  necessary  to  the  existence  of  man  him- 
self, than  the  solid  earth  upon  which  he  treads.  It  absorbs  and 
decomposes  the  noxious  particles  of  the  atmosphere;  and  if  it 
were  dried  up,  the  earth  would  become  as  arid  and  unfruitful  as  a 
desert.  Its  various  basins — which,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Caspian,  all  stand  in  connexion  with  each  other — facilitate  the 
transactions  of  commerce,  and  the  intercourse  of  nations;  and  its 
productions  form  a  valuable  branch  of  industry  in  every  maritime 
country. 

The  bed  or  basin  of  the  ocean,  being  only  a  continuation  of 
the  land,  exhibits  the  same  inequalities  of  surface  which  conti- 
nents present.  Were  the  sea  dried  up,  it  would  present  a  scene 
of  mountains,  valleys,  rocks,  and  plains,  covered  in  some  instances 
with  their  own  peculiar  vegetation,  and  the  abode  of  various  spe- 
cies of  animals.  The  depth  of  the  sea  varies  greatly  in  different 
places.  The  greatest  depth  ever  measured  was  that  ascertained 
by  Mr.  Scoresby,  the  captain  of  a  Greenland  whaler,  who  sunk 
a  very  heavy  lead  in  the  Greenland  Sea,  to  the  depth  of  nearly 
4,700  feet,  without  finding  ground.  According  to  the  laws  of 
gravitation,  by  which  in  all  connected  bodies  of  water,  the  higher 
parts  must  flow  towards  the  lower,  till  they  attain  the  same  level, 
the  level  of  the  ocean  is,  generally  speaking,  the  same  every- 
where. The  only  exception  to  this  position  may  perhaps  be 
found  in  gulfs  and  inland  seas,  which  have  only  a  slight  commu- 
nication with  the  ocean. 

Trie  color  of  the  ocean  is  generally  of  a  deep  bluish  green, 
particularly  in  the  deeper  seas;  as  the  depth  diminishes  towards 


PROPERTIES    OF    THE    SEA.  479 

the  coasts,  the  water  assumes  a  lighter  shade.  This  apparent 
color  of  the  sea  may  be  explained  upon  the  same  principle  as 
that  of  the  azure  blue  of  the  atmosphere.  Both  fluids  are  color- 
less when  in  a  glass;  the  air  reflects  chiefly  the  most  refrangible 
rays  of  light,  viz.  the  violet,  indigo,  and  blue,  and  therefore 
usually  appears  of  an  azure  color,  the  result  of  a  mixture  of 
these:  but  the  sea, •  from  its  density  and  depth,  is  able  to  re- 
flect not  only  many  blue  and  violet,  but  also  some  of  the  less 
refrangible  rays  in  sufficient  proportion  to  compose  a  greenish 
blue.  The  other  shades  in  the  color  of  seawater  depend  on 
illusory  or  local  causes.  The  green  and  yellow  shades  of  the  sea 
arise  from  marine  plants;  a  distinct  shade  is  often  communicated 
to  its  surface  by  the  presence  of  myriads  of  minute  insects:  and  in 
shallow  water,  the  light  reflected  from  the  sand  at  the  bottom  often 
gives  a  reddish  hue  to  the  surface.  In  the  West  Indies,  where 

"  The  floor  is  of  sand  like  the  mountain-drift; 
And  the  pearl-shells  spangle  the  flinty  snow," 

the  waters  of  the  ocean  are  often  so  beautifully  transparent,  as  to 
exhibit  the  minutest  object  they  contain  or  cover  at  the  depth  of 
several  fathoms.  In  the  Gulf  of  Guinea  the  sea  is  white;  and 
around  the  Maldive  islands  it  is  black. 

A  very  curious  and  magnificent  spectacle  is  often  presented  at 
night  by  the  luminous  appearance  of  the  sea, — a  phenomenon 
which  seamen  generally  "regard  as  the  precursor  of  blowing 
weather.  It  is  of  most  frequent  occurrence  in  summer  and 
autumn.  Three  species  are  generally  distinguished.  The  first  is 
generally  seen  close  to  a  ship  when  sailing  before  a  fresh  wind, 
and  forms  a  tail  of  light  in  the  wake  of  the  ship;  at  other  times, 
during  stormy  weather,  it  spreads  over  the  whole  surface  of  the 
sea,  clothing  it  apparently  in  a  sheet  of  fire.  This  species  is 
ascribed  to  electricity.  The  second  kind  of  marine  phosphores- 
cence, penetrates  beneath  the  surface;  and  when  a  quantity  of 
the  illuminated  water  is  put  into  a  vessel,  it  retains  the  brilliance 
as  long  as  it  is  kept  agitated,  but  loses  it  as  soon  as  the  agitation 
subsides.  This  species  occurs  during  dead  calms  or  in  very 
hot  weather,  and  seems  to  be  a  true  phosphoric  light,  emanating 
from  particles  of  putrid  animal  matter  suspended  in  the  water. 
The  third  species  exceeds  the  two  former  in  intensity  of  brilliance; 
and  it  is  supposed  that  the  appearance  is  occasioned  by  innume- 
rable minute  animals  of  a  round  shape,  moving  rapidly  through 
the  water  in  all  directions,  like  so  many  luminous  sparks. 

The  sea  is  subject  to  various  motions,  arising  from  different 
causes.  Even  when  unruffled  by  the  winds,  it  is  agitated  hy  the 
rotation  of  the  earth,  and  the  attraction  of  the  moon  and  the  sun. 
These  three  causes  produce  a  threefold  motion,  viz.  the  motion 
of  the  leaves,  that  of  the  currents,  and  that  of  the  tides. 

The  most  wonderful  and  important  motion  of  the  sea  is  that  of 


480  CLASSIFICATION    OF    CLOUDS. 

high  and  low  tide,  or  that  regular  ebb  and  flow  of  the  sea  which 
occur  every  day  at  a  certain  interval.  The  sea  rises  to  its  great- 
est height  in  about  6  hours,  and  remains  stationary  for  about  6 
minutes;  after  which  it  recedes  for  other  6  hours,  and  having  re- 
mained stationary  at  its  lowest  tide  for  a  few  minutes,  begins  to 
rise  again.  In  the  Baltic  and  the  Black  Sea  there  is  no  tide;  and 
almost  none  in  the  Mediterranean. 

Besides  these  motions  of  the  ocean,  there  is  another  not  so 
easily  accounted  for.  There  is  felt  in  the  open  sea  between  the 
Tropics,  and  as  far  as  the  30th  degree  of  latitude,  a  constant 
motion  from  east  to  west,  which  manifests  itself  in  the  quick  sail- 
ing of  vessels  moving  in  that  direction.  The  most  celebrated  of 
these  currents  is  the  Gulf-stream,  which  rises  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  between  Florida  and  the  Bahama  islands,  and  sets  in  a 
bended  and  expanded  flow  north-easterly,  along  the  coasts  of 
North  America,  till  it  reaches  Norway,  whence  repulsed  by  the 
Scandinavian  coasts,  it  turns  N.  W.  towards  Greenland.  The 
current  is  known  by  the  beautiful  blue  color  of  its  waters. 

When  two  or  several  currents  meet  each  other,  or  cross  at 
angles,  violent  circular  motions  of  the  sea  are  produced,  which 
attract  every  thing  coming  within  their  vortex,  and  whirling  it 
round  in  decreasing  gyrations,  finally  ingulf  it  in  their  bosoms. 
These  motions  of  the  sea  are  called  whirlpools.  Some  naturalists 
believe  that  they  mark  the  situation  of  profound  abysses  in  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  into  which  the  water  precipitating  itself  pro- 
duces this  dangerous  suction.  Among  the  most  remarkable 
whirlpools  is  that  of  Chalais  in  the  Euripus,  near  the  coast  of 
Smreee,  which  alternately  absorbs  and  rejects  the  water  seven 
times  every  twenty-four  hours.  Charybdis,  near  the  Strait  of 
Sicily,  rejects  and  absorbs  the  water  thrice  in  twenty-four  hours. 
The  largest  known  whirlpool  is  the  Maelstrom  in  the  Norwegian 
sea,  the  circumference  of  which  exceeds  20  leagues. 


CLASSIFICATION  OF  CLOUDS. 

The  clouds  are  aqueous  vapors,  which  hover  at  a  considerable 
height  above  the  surface  of  the  earth.  They  differ  from  fogs  only 
by  their  height  and  less  degree  of  transparency.  The  distance 
of  the  clouds  from  the  surface  of  the  earth  is  very  different.  Thin 
and  light  clouds  are  higher  than  the  highest  mountains;  thick 
and  heavy  clouds  on  the  contrary,  touch  low  mountains,  steeples, 
and  even  trees.  The  average  height  of  the  clouds  is  calculated 
to  be  two  miles  and  a  half,  innumerable  as  the  forms  of  clouds 


CLASSIFICATION    OF    CLOUDS. 


401 


may  appear  to  be,  correct  observers  have  stated  that  they  may 
be  all  comprised  in  seven  modifications. 


These  following  modifications  are  arranged  in  the  order  of 
their  ordinary  elevation,  but  which  is  very  frequently  deranged. 
We  give  the  names  both  in  Latin  and  English;  the  former  are 
perhaps  most  generally  used.  The  figures  refer  to  the  above 
engraving. 

FIG.     1,    CIRRUS Curl-Cloud. 

2,    CIRROCUMULUS        .     .     .     Sonder- Cloud. 
41 


482  CLASSIFICATION  OF  CLOUDS. 

Fig.  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  CIRROSTRATUS          .     .      .  IVane-CiOiid. 

9,   CuMULosTiiATUs     .      .     .  Twain- Cloud.  • 

9,   CU.MULUS Slacken- Cloud. 

11,   NIMBUS          Rain- Cloud. 

11,   STRATUS         Fall-Cloud. 

Fig.  1.  The  curling  and  flexuous  forms  of  this  cloud  constitute 
its  most  obvious  external  character,  and  from  these  it  derives  its 
name.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  all  others  by  the  lightness 
of  its  appearance,  its  fibrous  texture,  and  the  great  and  perpetually 
changing  variety  of  figures  which  it  presents  to  the  eye.  It  ia 
generally  the  most  elevated,  occupying  the  highest  regions  of 
the  atmosphere.  The  comoid  cirrus  cloud,  vulgarly  called  the 
mare's  tail,  is  the  proper  cirrus.  It  has,  as  represented  in  the 
engraving,  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  distended  lock  of  white 
hair,  or  of  a  bunch  of  wool  pulled  out  into  fine  pointed  ends. 
This  variety  is  an  accompaniment  of  a  variable  state  of  weather, 
and  forebodes  wind  and  rain. 

Fig.  2.  This  consists  of  extensive  beds  of  a  number  of  little, 
well  defined,  orbicular  masses  of  clouds,  or  small  cumuli,  in  close 
horizontal  opposition;  but  at  the  same  lime  lying  quite  asunder 
(sonder-cloud) ,  or  separate  from  one  another.  Their  picturesque 
appearance  in  summer  often  presents,  as  Bloomfield  expresses  it, 

The  beauteous  semblance  of  a  flock  at  rest. 

This  variety  is  commonly  a  forerunner  of  storms)  and  has  been 
remarked  as  such  by  the  poets. 

Fig.  3,  4,  5,  6,  7.  This  cloud  is  distinguishable  by  its  flatness, 
and  great  horizontal  extension  in  proportion  to  its  perpendicular 
height.  Under  all  its  various  forms,  it  preserves  this  character- 
istic. As  it  is  generally  changing  its  figure,  and  slowly  subsiding, 
it  has  received  the  name  of  wane-cloud.  Sometimes  this  cloud  is 
disposed  in  wavy  bars  or  streaks,  in  close  horizontal  opposition, 
and  these  bars  vary  infinitely  in  size  and  color,  generally  blended 
in  the  middle,  but  distinct  towards  its  edges,  fig.  4.  A  variety 
not  unlike  this,  is  the  mackerel-back  sky  of  summer  evenings.  It 
is  often  very  high  in  the  atmosphere.  Another  common  variety 
appears  like  a  long  streak,  thickest  in  the  middle,  and  wasting 
away  at  its  edges.  This~,  when  viewed  in  the  horizon,  has  the 
appearance  of  fig.  7.  Another  principal  variety  of  the  cirrostratus 
is  one  which  consists  of  small  rows  of  little  clouds,  curved  in  a 
peculiar  manner;  it  is  from  this  curvature  called  cymoid.jig.  5. 
This  cloud  is  a  sure  indication  of  stormy  weather.  Fig.  6  is  the 
representation  of  a  similar  one,  less  perfectly  formed,  having  more 
of  the  character  of  the  cirrocumulus,  and  is  often  produced  when 
a  large  cumulus  passes  under  the  variety  marked  fig.  7.  Another 
remarkable  developement  of  this  varying  genus  is,  that  extensive 
and  shallow  sort  of  cloud,  which  occurs  particularly  in  the  evening 
and  during  night,  through  which  the  sun  and  moon  but  faintly 


CLASSIFICATION    OF    CLOUDS.  483 

appear.  It  is  in  this  cloud  that  those  peculiar  refractions  of  the 
light  of  those  bodies,  called  halos,  mock  suns,  Stc.  usually  appear. 
This  variety  is  the  surest  prognostic  we  are  acquainted  with, 
of  an  impending  fall  of  rain  or  snow. 

Fig.  9.  The  base  of  this  modification  is  generally  fiat,  and 
lies  on  the  surface  of  an  atmospheric  stratum,  the  superstructure 
resembling  a  bulky  cumulus  overhanging  its  base  in  large  fleecy 
protuberances,  or  rising  into  the  forms  of  rocky  mountains.  Con- 
siderable masses  of  these  frequently  are  grouped  upon  a  common 
stratum  or  base,  from  which  it  has  been  named  cumulostralus.  It 
derives  the  other  appellation,  twain-cloud,  from  the  frequently 
visible  coalescence  of  two  other  modifications,  as,  for  exam,  le, 
the  cirrus  and  the  cumulus.  Cumulostratus  often  evaporates, 
sometimes  changes  to  cumulus,  but,  in  general,  it  ends  in  nimbus, 
and  tails  in  rain.  In  long  ranges  of  these  clouds  it  has  been  ob- 
served that  part  has  changed  into  nimbus,  and  the  rest  remained 
unchanged. 

Fig.  9.  This  cloud  is  easily  known  by  its  irregular  hemis- 
pherical or  heaped  superstructure,  hence  its  name  cumulus,  a  heap 
or  pile.  It  has  usually  a  flattened  base.  The  mode  of  its  for- 
mation is  by  the  gathering  together  of  detached  clouds,  which 
then  appear  stacked  into  one  large  and  elevated  mass,  or  stacken- 
cloud.  The  best  time  for  viewing  its  progressive  formation  is  in 
fine  settled  weather.  It  may  be  called  the  cloud  of  day,  as  it 
usually  exists  only  during  that  period. 

Fig.  11.  This  is  not  a  modification  depending  upon  a  distinct 
change  of  form,  but  rather  from  increase  of  density  and  deepening 
of  shade  in  the  cumulostratus,  indicating  a  change  of  structure, 
which  is  always  followed  by  the  fall  of  rain.  This  has  been, 
therefore,  called  nimbus,  (a  rainy  black  cloud.)  Any  one  of  the 
preceding  six  modifications  may  increase  so  much  as  to  obscure 
the  sky,  and,  without  falling  in  rain,  "  dissolve,"  and  "  leave  not 
a  rack  behind."  But  when  cumulostratus  has  been  formed,  it 
sometimes  goes  on  to  increase  in  density,  and  assume  a  black  and 
portentous  darkness.  Shortly  afterwards  the  intensity  of  this 
blackness  yields  to  a  more  gray  obscurity,  which  is  an  evidence 
that  a  new  arrangement  has  taken  place  in  the  aqueous  particles 
of  the  cloud;  the  nimbus  is  formed,  and  rain  begins  to  fall. 

Fig.  11.  This  kind  of  cloud  rests  upon  the  surface  of  the 
globe.  It  is  of  variable  extent  and  thickness,  and  is  called  stratus, 
a  bed  or  covering.  It  is  generally  formed  by  the  subsidence  of 
vapor  in  the  atmosphere,  and  has,  therefore,  been  denominated 
fall-cloud.  This  genus  includes  all  fogs,  and  those  creeping  mists, 
which  in  summer  evenings  fill  the  valleys,  remain  during  the 
night,  and  disappear  in  the  morning.  This  cloud  arrives  at  its 
density  about  midnight,  or  between  that  time  and  morning,  and  it 
generally  disappears  about  sunrise.  It  is,  for  this  reason,  called 
by  some,  the  cloud  of  night. 


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